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Sun Mar 03 2024
Nevermind
Nirvana
First time listen as an album. Amazing. The grime of it stands out still today. I think I’ve heard every song hear at some point because of how prevalent it is in pop culture. A bit of leitmotif throughout. Only one mid song, On A Plain. Standouts: Lithium, Polly, and Endless, Nameless. Final track is a real gut punch.
5
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Mon Mar 04 2024
Cross
Justice
Not the biggest fan of electronic music. I think songs and albums of the genre need to be engaging, bring something unique to the table, and need the sound to build to something. This album does a solid job. I remember listening to some of the songs as a kid. “Opera-disco” with a lot of personality. Apparently has 100s of micro samples. Songs transition into one another, leitmotif of D.A.N.C.E. used throughout. I want to say that I dislike parts of the album because it’s electronic, but honestly I was impressed by how engaged it kept me throughout the runtime. One song I didn’t care for as much was Newjack, but even that song ends strongly. Standouts: Let There Be Light, D.A.N.C.E., Phantom, Valentine, Waters of Nazareth. I would give it a 4.25/5 right now, but I think it can only go up. Very enjoyable to finally listen to the whole album.
4
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Tue Mar 05 2024
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
I’ve only heard Sultans of Swing before listening to this album. Very laid back rock that discussed topics like lost love, longing, and ostracism. Plucky strings litter the songs, adds a nice texture to the smooth background. Really liked the second half of the album. Standouts: Water of Love, Six Blade Knife, In the Gallery, Wild West End, Lions. Solid album, but nothing that really surprised me.
4
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Wed Mar 06 2024
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
I don’t know enough history about jazz around this time to give a full appreciation to what B.B. King and the band had performed here. Amazing jazz and blues. Not a dull moment, and man, what a voice on that man. The recording itself is quality as well. Puts you right in a dimly lit theater with dressed tables watching the lit stage. Standouts: Sweet Little Angel, How Blue Can You Get?, Worry, Worry, Woke Up This Mornin’, and You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now.
5
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Thu Mar 07 2024
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Never listened to an entire Johnny Cash album. It’s great. My only complaint is that a lot of songs sound too similar to differentiate. The ones that sound the most distinct had a backup vocalist or had a cool story like in I Hung My Head. The covers are great, didn’t think I needed a We’ll Meet Again cover by Cash. There are too many songs that were standouts, but here are a few; Standouts: Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Hung My Head, In My Life, and Danny Boy.
4
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Fri Mar 08 2024
Tapestry
Carole King
This album is fine. I didn’t like the opening track, I Feel The Earth Move. My least favorite part of the album was the super plucky piano. It made some of the songs feel like a hickory dickery nursery rhyme or something out of a Disney soundtrack. Wasn’t sold on her storytelling. The songs feel upbeat and peppy, but kind of a chore to listen to near the end. The songs following the first were some of the best of the whole experience.Standouts: So Far Away, It’s Too Late, and Way Over Yonder.
3
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Sat Mar 09 2024
Ten
Pearl Jam
First time listening to an album by Pearl Jam. I had always thought they were a hair band from the 70s. Great album. Not too much to say though. It’s some psych rock with good storytelling. At points, mesmerizing. Release is a really great closer to the album. It’s difficult to remember what the songs I thought were okay even sounded like, though. Standouts: Once, Even Flow, Black, Jeremy, Garden.
4
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Sun Mar 10 2024
Kenya
Machito
Lost my notes. Wow, what an album. Texture is rich and bright throughout the entire album. Not a dull moment. The bongos or whatever drums are used drive each song forward. Standouts: Wild Jungle, Congo Mulence, Holiday, Conversation, andTin Tin Deo.
5
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Mon Mar 11 2024
Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Not a big fan of 90s R&B that sounds like moaning, but I’ve gotta admit, the vibes are great. He has an angelic voice, and I’m sure if I wasn’t a guy and born in the right era, I’d melt. Did have me bobbing my head for a good bit of it. Standouts: Alright, When We Get By, Higher.
3
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Tue Mar 12 2024
Be
Common
Early 2000s rap. Produced by Kanye, which is a huge plus. The sampling is great, not a lot of chipmunk vocals either. Common has a great voice and great lyricism. Some songs have transitions between them. Great album experience, some of the best of this era. Standouts: Be (Intro), Faithful, Love is…, The Food - Live, and They Say.
4
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Wed Mar 13 2024
Revolver
Beatles
Gave it a shot. I dislike the Beatles. I know they’re pioneering and all of that, but I don’t like the music. I think they’re annoying. Don’t really like what they stood for either. That being said, there were some cool moments on the record, like the texture of some songs. Yellow Submarine has a lot of background sounds and people talking to give imagery to the song. Other songs I don’t understand, like She Said She Said. Did not like a couple of songs. Standouts: Eleanor Rigby, I’m Only Sleeping, For No One.
3
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Thu Mar 14 2024
Logical Progression
LTJ Bukem
It’s called jungle music, but the only thing I know close to it is house music. Really something I’d have to go out of my way to listen to, not my style. It’s like a Mario Kart selection screen that keeps building on itself. Listened to the version without vocals so I could choose individual songs for the playlist. I don’t hate it, but it is not what I would choose to listen to for an hour. Standouts: Above & Beyond, Music, and Jazz Lick
2
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Fri Mar 15 2024
Illmatic
Nas
This was an album I had wanted to listen to for some time. Easy to see why this is one of the most influential and beloved rap albums of all time. Nas has some of the best word play and lyricism of any rapper I’ve heard. The instrumentals in the background range from pleasant to emphatic. The album does a great job at putting you in its stories. Only song I thought was okay was Life’s a Bitch, granted I’ve heard it many times sampled elsewhere. The only issues I have with the album are that I can’t relate to it, but man does it put on a groove. What an amazing few closing tracks. Standouts: N.Y. State of Mind, Halftime, One Time 4 Your Mind, Represent, It Ain’t Hard to Tell.
4
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Sat Mar 16 2024
This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Short, sweet, simple. Best kind of music from this era. I prefer some other music from the 40s, 50s, early 60s that is similar, but I do like these songs. This collection of songs was only 18 minutes long, so it’s hard to hate or really love anything here — not that I would have hated it. I had known of Blueberry Hill and Blue Monday beforehand. Standouts: Blueberry Hill, What’s the Reason I’m Not Pleasing You, Blue Monday, Goin’ Home.
4
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Sun Mar 17 2024
Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday is great. Beautiful voice supported by a beautiful orchestra. Good crooner music. Can sometimes be boring because all of the songs sound so similar, but they’re all so tender and close-hearted. Standouts: For Heaven’s Sake, For All We Know, It’s Easy to Remember, But Beautiful, I’m a Fool to Love You.
4
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Mon Mar 18 2024
Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
I had no expectations for this album, and I had never heard of the artist before. Got blown out of the water, parts of the album are right up my alley. Not quite sure of the genre, it’s grimey, folky, and high-strung. Very, very strong start with a great ending. The middle gets a bit same-y. She has good lyricism, and isn’t afraid to do unorthodox and initially offputting music. Works out for the better. Like in Legs where the guitars sound like wailing cries of agony or in Rub ‘Til It Bleeds where the drum hits give imagery of bludgeoning something. Definitely an album I’ll return to. Standouts: Rid of Me, Missed, Legs, Rub ‘Til It Bleeds, Ecstacy.
4
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Tue Mar 19 2024
Tommy
The Who
Really cool rock story album following a deaf, dumb, blind kid named Tommy. Sound is similar to Jesus Christ Superstar. He’s first bullied and outcasted, then treated like a saint for his ability to play pinball. Cool leitmotif throughout the album. One thing I found really interesting was that there was an overture and an “Underture”. Underture is about 10 mins long, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t quite get the album for the first 6 songs, but then Christmas came on, and I started to understand what the album was. The last 8 or so tracks of the album do not standout, but they do wrap up the story nicely. Standouts: Amazing Journey, Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker), Christmas, Cousin Kevin, Pinball Wizard, and Go to the Mirror!
4
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Wed Mar 20 2024
Trans Europe Express
Kraftwerk
Melodic electronic music that sounds like a train. I like the idea, and I kinda got it at the end of the album after I looked up some of the history for it, but I didn’t quite understand what the album was supposed to be based on on its own. There’s not a lot of substance to it, and the repetitious lyrics are grating. My favorite song was the one without lyrics that had a beautiful melody, Franz Schubert. Endless, Endless is a nice end to the album though. I will say, I would like to return to this album to get a better picture of it— it’s intriguing— but not a great first impression. Standouts: The Hall of Mirrors, Abzug, Franz Schubert.
3
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Thu Mar 21 2024
Songs The Lord Taught Us
The Cramps
Halloween themed rock with Elvis screamo in there. This album was not quite up my alley. It was hard for me to be invested in it because of how difficult it is to hear the singer for a lot of the songs. Definitely a garage sound, which I can commend, but still wasn’t quite what I like. Fever is a cool closer track. A very defined first album for the band. Standouts: I Was A Teenage Werewolf, Zombie Dance, Tear It Up.
2
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Fri Mar 22 2024
Crazysexycool
TLC
90s R&B, but without the moaning, except for a skit. Made me uncomfortable. Not my style, but the vibes are good. There is a sort of story throughout, strung together with the interludes and such. Some songs really embrace the 90s funk and sampling. The finale has a really cool blown out guitar. I liked it a little more than the D’Angelo album I had listened to. Standouts: Kick Your Game, Waterfalls, Let’s Do It Again, Sumthin’ Wicked This Way Comes.
3
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Sat Mar 23 2024
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
First time listening to a Bob Dylan album. Pretty good. He has great storytelling, but I have a difficult time remembering a lot of what was said throughout the whole listening. About half of the songs were just okay, which I think is the problem for me with folk albums. Some of it is thought provoking, however. Great first half of the album. Good closer too. Standouts: Blowin’ in the Wind, Girl from the North Country, Masters of War, A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall, and Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.
4
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Sun Mar 24 2024
The College Dropout
Kanye West
First album on here that I have listened to prior. My favorite artist. I don’t need to write anything, so I won’t. Except, that it’s not my favorite Kanye album. Standouts: All Falls Down, Spaceship, Jesus Walks, Slow Jamz, Through the Wire, and Family Business.
5
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Mon Mar 25 2024
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Not too much to say. The album is a positive, fun experience. Elvis has an iconic voice which makes the songs feel special. I’m Counting on You was my favorite. Very tender delivery. Standouts: Blue Suede Shoes, I’m Counting on You, I Love You Because, I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darling), and Blue Moon - Take 9/M.
4
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Tue Mar 26 2024
The Joshua Tree
U2
I was going into this expecting to have a 5, I think I set myself up for disappointment. This is an amazing album, the first half being my favorites. After the half way point, however, I became less interested and impressed. A bit too similar in the later half. Standouts: Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With Or Without You, Bullet The Blue Sky, and Red Hill Mining Town.
4
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Wed Mar 27 2024
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Forgot to write about the album. Not too much to say, though. It was a good psych rock experience. The final song is easily the best. Noticed that it sampled the “God rest ye merry gentlemen” song or hymn. Kept you engaged for a lot of it. Doesn’t overstay its welcome either. Standouts: My Mirage, Termination, and In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
4
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Thu Mar 28 2024
Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
The album was good but very similar. Not as much Spanish guitar or motifs as I was hoping for. If there was more variety, it would be better. I had known La Grange before this, good song. Standouts: Master of Sparks, Move Me on Down the Line, and La Grange.
3
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Fri Mar 29 2024
Legalize It
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh was a part of The Wailers, which is cool. Did not like the opening track Legalize It. Different era, and I don’t like weed. Political song that I didn’t align with I suppose, but sonically it’s not the best on the album either. The middle of the album and the last track were easily the best because he talked about more than marijuana. His writing on Igzibeher was pretty good. Last track was good as well. Standouts: No Sympathy, Igziabeher, and Brand New Second Hand.
3
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Sat Mar 30 2024
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Really great collection of songs. Production is great, filled with strings, brass, etc. Really makes Elvis’s voice pop in these songs. Delivery is great, background vocalists are a nice touch as well. The worst songs are just good. Some songs are similar, but a majority of the tracks are distinct and memorable. Standouts: Only the Strong Survive, I’ll Hold You In My Heart, Gentle On My Mind, Suspicious Minds, Don’t Cry Daddy, Mama Liked the Roses.
4
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Sun Mar 31 2024
Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
This album would be okay if all lyrics were taken out. What a dogshit name and album cover. Have never liked how the vocalist sings. This whole album was unpleasant to listen to and needlessly crass and angry. I will admit that there are glimpses of things I like about it, namely some of the instrumentals, but there is not much I did like. There are no standouts.
1
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Mon Apr 01 2024
G. Love And Special Sauce
G. Love & Special Sauce
This album was weird. Not what I had expected from the album art at all. Indie minimal rap folk something. The guy’s voice is not that good. Rough and tumble I guess. Not my thing, but it did get better in the middle. Standouts: Baby’s Got Sauce, Fatman, and This Ain’t Living.
3
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Tue Apr 02 2024
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
I didn’t get the album at the start. My first impressions were that it was a satire and parody album, but then there were some actual songs that came off as genuine. I think the album is trying to be tongue in cheek and genuine at points, which is cool and unique. Granted, it’s at the cost that some songs are just bad. Standouts: The Moonbeam Song, Without You, Jump into the Fire, and I’ll Never Leave You.
3
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Wed Apr 03 2024
Suede
Suede
Really surprised and impressed by this album. The sound is right up my alley, every song was good, and some were great. I wish I had paid more attention to it, but the vibe was perfect. Standouts: So Young, Animal Nitrate, She’s Not Dead, Sleeping Pills, Breakdown, and Where the Pigs Don’t Fly.
5
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Thu Apr 04 2024
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
Classic disco music. Did not listen to the four remixes at the end of the album, I had gotten the picture. But, the experience was good. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It’s a bit repetitive, go figure. Standouts: He’s the Greatest Dancer, Thinking of You, You’re a Friend to Me, and One More Time.
3
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Fri Apr 05 2024
Dirt
Alice In Chains
Big name that I’ve heard of. Thought I might like it, and I did. Though, the album didn’t click for me until Down In A Hole. At times the album seems a bit middling, but the great stuff is where it’s at. Whole album feels “Dirt”-y. There’s a layer of that sound over every song, which gives a lot of character to the project. Standouts: Down In A Hole, Rooster, Hate To Feel, Angry Chair, and Would?
4
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Sat Apr 06 2024
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
Average Johnny Cash performance with a cool twist because it was performed at the jail itself for the inmates. Standouts: Starkville City Jail, San Quentin (Reprise), and Folsom Prison Blues.
3
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Sun Apr 07 2024
Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Indian music. I mean, you can tell that it’s quality, but I can’t really say much about it. Album is super long, and I cannot understand what’s being said. It is good, but it’s nothing I’ll come back to or understand. Awesome album cover though. Standouts: Yeh Jo Halka Saroor Hae, and Haq Ali Ali Haq.
2
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Mon Apr 08 2024
Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
80s white rap? Kinda? This doesn’t seem like music I should enjoy, but I did. The voices should sound annoying, but they never bothered me. To be honest, the whole album sounded like one song, but it kept me engaged the whole time. I can’t quite pinpoint what made it so much more enjoyable than Limp Bizkit. The layering is really interesting and diverse. Very fun album. I don’t know what the B-Boy Bouillabaisse are supposed to be though.— After finishing the album, they’re short raps over cool beats— Standouts: Johnny Ryall, High Plains Drifter, 3-Minute Rule, Hey Ladies, What Comes Around, and Shadrach.
4
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Tue Apr 09 2024
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
Really interesting and cool album. I wasn’t too particular to the lyrics, but the instrumentals are really great and engaging. When I did catch some of the lyrics they were good. The only negative thing I can say about the album is I wish that the lyrics captivated me as much as the background, and that it does unfortunately fall into some corny/ weird 90s rapping. Standouts: Freedom, Break, What’s Golden, Sum of Us, I Am Somebody, and Acetate Prophets.
4
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Wed Apr 10 2024
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
Oh my goodness I love Joni Mitchell’s voice. She sings so tenderly. This is a great album. The music is a mixture of folk, electronic, and jazz. A really cool mixture. Unfortunately, the last couple songs are just okay, which will not make this a 5. But man, the songs that are standouts are some of the best I’ve heard from this book. Standouts: In France They Kiss on Main Street, Edith and the Kingpin, Shades of Scarlett Conquering, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, and The Boho Dance.
4
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Thu Apr 11 2024
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
Didn’t like it. I probably don’t like punk music from what I’ve heard so far. Standouts: Hamlet (Pow Pow Pow) and Several Sins.
2
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Fri Apr 12 2024
You Are The Quarry
Morrissey
I love The Smiths and Morrissey’s singing and lyricism on those records. I cannot say the same for this solo project. It’s a far cry from what I loved from before. His sound is distinct from The Smiths, and is not one that I enjoy nearly as much. Morrissey is Morrissey, so if you disagree with what he says, you’ll simply dislike the song. He’s kinda like Kanye in that sense, unabashedly himself, which I do like. I disliked the opening song about America. Seems lowbrow, especially now after a black president. Sometimes the production on this album gets electronic and kinda strange. It can sometimes take you out of the experience. Standouts: Come Back to Camden, The World is Full of Crashing Bores, First of the Gang to Die, and Let Me Kiss You.
3
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Sat Apr 13 2024
The Wildest!
Louis Prima
The cream of the crop. Amazing track list, amazing time listening to it. Nothing out of place, just beautiful and fun music. Light, meaningful, endearing. Standouts: Just A Gigalo/I Ain’t Got Nobody, Body and Soul, Oh, Marie, Basin Street Blues/When It’s Sleepy Time…, and Buona Sera.
5
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Sun Apr 14 2024
Surfer Rosa
Pixies
Really fun, whining, wailing album. Not supposed to be taken too seriously and has a great vibe to it. Half of the songs aren’t really anything but a bunch of nonsense, but it’s a fun listen. There’s a reason why Where Is My Mind? is still circling its way through the internet still. Standouts: Bone Machine, Something Against You, Gigantic, River Euphrates, Where Is My Mind?, and Brick Is Red.
4
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Mon Apr 15 2024
When I Was Born For The 7th Time
Cornershop
This album is a hodgepodge of everything. There’s Indian music sampled and used in a lot of songs, Spanish lyrics, other weird lyrics. One song is just an ambient vapor wave type of song. Each song is different and there are quite a few interludes with kinda bizarre references. I don’t think you’re supposed to be able to pinpoint a single theme or message out of the album, but my issue with it is that it doesn’t do so in an overtly intriguing way. The way sounds are thrown together are to their detriment, but not in an egregious way. A very confusing listen, not quite a fan. Tried to listen to it later. Damn this thing is ass. Standouts: Brimful of Asha and Candyman.
2
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Tue Apr 16 2024
Low
David Bowie
Very mystical project. Half of it is basically all instrumental. Sounds like a movie soundtrack if they were trying to make electronic music sound orchestral. I liked it, and I feel like another listen would give me more appreciation for the album. I can’t say whether or not I wanted more of Bowie’s singing on it, as I feel the album succeeds at what it set out to do. Standouts: Sound and Vision, Always Crashing in the Same Car, A New Career in Town, and Subterraneans.
4
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Wed Apr 17 2024
Kid A
Radiohead
First time listening to a whole Radiohead album. I started listening to the album accidentally on shuffle, so I was thinking that there were some weird pacing issues with it. Glad I caught it. This album is ethereal. To put it simply, everything’s in its right place. Standouts: Everything In Its Right Place, Kid A, How to Disappear Completely, Treefingers, Optimistic, Idioteque, and Motion Picture Soundtrack.
5
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Thu Apr 18 2024
John Prine
John Prine
Good folk album. A witty, some tunes funny, tongue in cheek critique of war, love, grief and the new age. Vibe similar to the Nilsson Schmilsson album. Was impressed by his lyricism and how real some of the songs felt. Standouts: Hello in There, San Stone, Paradise, Pretty Good, Donald and Lydia.
4
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Fri Apr 19 2024
Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Indie rock with a Middle Eastern twist? Only four unique songs with a fifth 12” version of the opening track which switches it up halfway through. Cool little album. I liked the sound of the singer. She has a nice inflection. All of the songs were good, nothing overstays its welcome either. At some points there were really interesting instrumentals. Standouts: Spellbound, Arabian Knights, and Monitor.
4
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Sat Apr 20 2024
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
The Beatles wish they could be The Beach Boys. Good, fun, delicate collection of songs. A wonderful, tender listen. Standouts: Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder), I’m Waiting For The Day, Let’s Go Away For Awhile, Here Today, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, and Pet Sounds.
4
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Sun Apr 21 2024
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
What a cool and bizarre album. Backgrounds are a lot of spacey synth type of sounds which go well with Bowie’s lyrics. I did enjoy it more than Low, which I also really liked. Only two songs I didn’t really care for, but an amazing package overall. So great that it pains me to dislike anything here because the standouts really are great. Standouts: Five Years, Soul Love, Moonage Daydream, Starman, It Ain’t Easy, Ziggy Stardust, Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide.
4
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Mon Apr 22 2024
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
George Michael
George Michael has a great voice, but this album is only okay. After listening, I have no desire to return to this album. None of the songs really impressed me and the lyrics are serviceable. The ending was nice, though. Only three tracks had good music backing up lyrics. Those are the standouts: They Won’t Go When I Go, Cowboys and Angels, and Soul Free.
3
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Tue Apr 23 2024
Disraeli Gears
Cream
Didn’t pay too much attention to the album. I found a lot of the songs on the album sounded similar, a little to similar to parse through. It was a fine listen, and I did enjoy it. Always love Sunshine of Your Love. Standouts: Sunshine of Your Love, World of Pain, Dance The Night Away, and We’re Going Wrong.
3
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Wed Apr 24 2024
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Beautiful album. I imagine myself sitting in New Mexico enjoying a nice hot afternoon. Everything’s in Spanish, so I have to base it off of is vibes, which are amazing. Sounds a little bit like Toy Story too. Kinda funny that way. Standouts: El Cuarto De Tula, Tu Que Has Hacho?, Veinte Anos, El Carratero, Candela, and Murmullo.
4
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Thu Apr 25 2024
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
What a bloated album. I liked what I had heard before, like In Da Club and Many Men, but a majority of what I haven’t heard is for good reason. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not much worth having here. About 17-18 tracks with one remix is a lot for the run time of 75 mins. I think it’s funny listening back to 00’s and 90’s rap and thinking what they had was hard when it sounds like a bunch of metrosexual shit. Time can be a cruel mistress. Standouts: Patiently Waiting, Many Men (Wish Death), In Da Club, P.I.M.P., and 21 Questions.
3
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Fri Apr 26 2024
Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello proves that he can sing well with some of the songs here, but for others, he sings like he’s singing Stacy’s Mom. His voice can be very annoying this way, yet he sometimes has good songs. This album was pretty long for me, and I tuned out pretty quick. First song was grating. I was brought back in when the instrumentals were good or he sang well. Never heard him before, don’t want to hear more of him. Maybe I just didn’t understand what he was trying to sing about, especially on songs like My Science Fiction Twin or 20% Amnesia. Standouts: You Tripped At Every Step, Sulky Girl, and Favourite Hour.
2
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Sat Apr 27 2024
Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Some of the best jazz, still. There’s nothing quite like Miles Davis. I love his music and I love this album. Such a tender, sweet, and snappy collection. Standouts: Blue in Green and Flamenco Sketches.
5
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Sun Apr 28 2024
The Only Ones
The Only Ones
Didn’t pay too much attention to the album. The sound is fun and a bit weird, using strange lyrics and guitar licks. Kinda sounded like indie rock, especially with the lead singer’s whiny voice. Doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is a plus, but then again I also didn’t take listening to it seriously neither. An okay album. Standouts: Another Girl, Another Planet, The Beast, It’s The Truth, and Lovers of Today.
3
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Mon Apr 29 2024
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
First punk album that I’ve gotten that doesn’t make bad music. The lyrics are some of the most questionable and maybe evil, but I think the music was a lot of fun to listen to. There is a song called I Kill Children. I thought of it more as a tongue in cheek kinda thing. Critiques of warfare and maybe capitalism. It was difficult to catch everything said. California one was the best on the album. Standouts: Kill the Poor, Chemical Warfare, California Uber Allies, and Funland at the Beach.
3
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Tue Apr 30 2024
(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Great album. Love the big hitters here but I was not as in love with the ones I hadn’t heard before. The big three (Tuesday’s Gone, Simple Man, and Free Bird) just clear the rest of them by a mile. The length of the album is perfect. Doesn’t overstay its welcome, covers a good variety of subjects such as love, uncertainty, youth, and change. Standouts: Tuesday’s Gone, Gimme Three Steps, Simple Man, Poison Whiskey, and Free Bird.
4
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Wed May 01 2024
James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
Forgot to write earlier. Good live jazz, albeit a bit short. One song is worth 1/3 of the run time, and it was just okay. Wasn’t the most creative jazz performance I’ve listened to. Standouts: Try Me, I Don’t Mind, and Medley: Please Please Please/You’ve Got The Power/I Found Someone.
3
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Thu May 02 2024
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
Surprisingly fun throwaway album. Can’t tell what is really being said. The songs are so short that the whole thing feels like nothing. Probably the point. Lots of anger? I caught criticism of the Vietnam war in Paid Vacation, that’s about it. Standouts: Behind the Door, Paid Vacation, and Live Fast Die Young.
3
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Fri May 03 2024
Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
Man I love Steely Dan. What a wonderful, colorful and fun album. Pleasantly surprised by the lyrics and the plucky and funky guitars riffs. Paints a beautiful picture. Even the quieter moments like on East St. Louis Toodle-Oo where there are no lyrics, the instrumentals put you right there. Standouts: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, Night By Night, Barrytown, Through With Buzz, Pretzel Logic, and Charlie Freak.
5
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Sat May 04 2024
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
A decent album with some good songs. I like the overall vibe, clearly inspired a lot of music from the indie revival around this time. Dramatic post apocalyptic suburbs I guess? I found it hard to like the delivery on some songs. Like on Sprawl 1 I like how desolate it sounds, and then for 2 I don’t care for how the female vocalist sings with all of the fluttery instrumentals. Album feels a little bloated. Standouts: The Suburbs, Modern Man, Suburban War, Wasted Hours, and Deep Blue.
3
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Sun May 05 2024
Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy
Interesting lyrical rap about politics, violence, and hatred for yourself and others. Not the best to listen to sonically. Now, what was said on the album has been said many times, but I’ll assume for its time it was revolutionary. Maybe that‘a the wrong term for it. An okay listen. Standouts: Television The Drug Of The Nation, Language Of Violence, and Financial Leprosy.
3
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Mon May 06 2024
Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
A live performance of French songs. The singer has a very powerful voice. I understood nothing of it, and fell out of it by the end. Standouts: Amsterdam and Tango funebre
3
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Tue May 07 2024
Stardust
Willie Nelson
Beautiful, melancholic, tender country with a simple and loving background. Discussed a lot of views of love and longing for another person, time, or place. There is a shimmer of hope that is constant on the album, an endearing touch. Really impressed by this album, and it resonated with me. Standouts: Stardust, Georgia On My Mind, Blue Skies, September Song, Moonlight In Vermont, and Someone to Watch Over Me.
5
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Wed May 08 2024
The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
A diverse album with a lot of range. The singer’s voice is light, coarse, and emotive. Every track is distinct, the only issue is that some sound like Disney movie soundtracks. I want to like the song Grounds for Divorce, but the chorus sounds like butt rock and it makes me cringe. Listened to the album all of the way through twice, and I don’t think that it has the greatest replay value. All in all, a good album. Standouts: Starlings, An Audience With The Pope, Some Riot, One Day Like This, and Friend Of Ours.
4
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Thu May 09 2024
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
Did not know what to expect from an album like this one. I did enjoy it overall, though it’s not quite my cup of tea. Electronic metal? Not boring, and some songs do have melodies to grab onto through the noise. Lyrics might be there somewhere but cannot be parsed. Album cover is cool. Standouts: Assassins, Dracula Mountain, 2 Towers, and Crown of Storms.
3