Mar 12 2024
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Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
Whew! This one washed over me like a tidal wave of joy, and to have this as my first album for this listening project grace my ears, was an exciting bonus. On repeat much for me in the early to mid 2000s, the well timed rap elements, visual lyrics, and heavy elemental sound for me was, and still is, a pleasant, very fun and certainly rewarding musical surprise to my body and soul. The bands dedication to their craft is evident and still appreciated. Thanks! ****
4
Mar 13 2024
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Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
Outlaw country from a master! Songs about Honkey-Tonks, traveling down the road, relationships and general tom-foolery. Rich voice and playful music make it particularly fun to listen to I think. I do like outlaw country for the most part already, but I think even someone outside of this genre may love this one. It's a toe-tapper!
4
Mar 14 2024
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I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
I know, I know, but for the most part I simply don't get it. While his "genius" is not for everyone, songs like Everybody knows, Ain't No Cure for Love, Take this Waltz, and Tower of Song are nice and overall this speaks to my lyric loving mind to help me hear some of the "brilliance" others have said to me is Leonard Cohen.
3
Mar 15 2024
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Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
Unique and arguably game changing, Jane's Addiction are entertainers and innovators in rock, even though their sounds gets off trail for me sometimes. An interesting listen all in all.
3
Mar 18 2024
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What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye could sing about dish soap and you would be grateful for it. Kidding aside, this album is a poignant and visceral sign of the times in US history. He preaches with eloquent vocals that provide soul for the body and mind. The overall instrumental sound is amazing, and his angelic voice is almost too good to believe.
5
Mar 19 2024
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British Steel
Judas Priest
Although metal is not in my usual cup of tea, I can say without question that this album certainly belongs on this list as a "must listen". Judas Priest is METAL; shocasing hard, but well controlled voices and absolutely stellar guitars. This album, as I suspect theirs typically do, plays very LOUD...I think both figuratively and literally. It's a well rounded album though, with a good mix of heavy that also includes softer anthems. A solid 101 lesson in 80s metal!
3
Mar 20 2024
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Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
SEX, sex, sex....and some serious rock and roll. Guitar work is energetic, wonderful and fun, but lyrics are lacking. The style is certainly appropriate for the time and while fun to listen to, I found it still a little one noted. I should say that is one of my favorite times in US rock though, and maybe why I critically rate this one a little low.
3
Mar 21 2024
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War
U2
Meaningful lyrics and aptly named. This is classic U2. It does also remind me though, that while I love U2 in smaller dosses, an entire album in one sitting can be admittedly tiresome in spots.
3
Mar 22 2024
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Dig Me Out
Sleater-Kinney
This was not for me.
2
Mar 25 2024
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In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
I hear the unique brilliance of Miles Davis and this makes fairly pleasant back ground music, but Jazz is generally not for me. Maybe it's this album in particular, but I find that the sound for me a is too abstract.
3
Mar 26 2024
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
3
Mar 27 2024
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
Some of the most talented musicians. This album works for me as background music, but sometimes too lively to concentrate.
4
Mar 28 2024
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
3
Mar 29 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
Never a fan and still am not, but I do think they create a fairly creative body of work here.
3
Apr 01 2024
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Doolittle
Pixies
Classic and great in many ways. Never listened to this album in it's entirety before now, but overall I'm glad I did even though some songs sound too similar.
4
Apr 02 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
This album has a lot of SOUL with the solid dose of funk, which I appreciate. I found most of the sound to be creative and pleasant to listen to, but overall this is not my favorite Curtis Mayfield album.
3
Apr 03 2024
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California
American Music Club
It is easy for me to see that this album would be influence for later alternative rock bands, even today. It has a melodic moody sound that I enjoyed, but an entire album length was too much to keep my interest.
3
Apr 04 2024
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
So very pretty and thoughtful! There is a lot of wit, soul, and heart in this album to me. And the songs are varied enough in overall sound to keep me mostly interested throughout.
5
Apr 05 2024
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
Not a fan of jam bands or being yelled at. They do "rock out" though in between droning. It's probably better to be high.
2
Apr 08 2024
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21
Adele
There are several deserved hits on this album, but I appreciated listening to the album through, as I discovered a few softer songs that still showcased her rich voice well. I tired of the repeated theme a little, of nothing but relationships, but I think it's also fair that that was probably a theme in her life at that time too so it makes sense.
4
Apr 09 2024
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
A short album, but OH SO SWEET. I love their sound and overall toe tapping feel. John Fogerty's voice carries the back woods sound beautifully, while the lyrics paint a colorful picture. CCR has been one my favorite bands since the very first time I heard a song from them.
5
Apr 10 2024
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Merriweather Post Pavilion
Animal Collective
I appreciate this album from a creative perspective, but it's not for me. At any single point it sounds like at least two different millennial "indie-pop" songs with random electronic beeps and sounds trying to come together, but repeatedly fails. For me, the mess is too distracting and I have hard time not being annoyed. But hey, whatever frosts your cookie.
1
Apr 12 2024
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1977
Ash
This album hits somewhere between punk and pop to me, but the music never comes together enough to be memorable, and the lyrics are fairly week.
2
Apr 15 2024
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
I hear slick lyrics, fun sampleing, and creative beats that work well together. Each song belongs cohesively to this band's style, but also each one is unique enough to keep me interested for the most part.
3
Apr 17 2024
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AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
I understand the "hard core" song lyric competition with other artists of the time and genre, and the stories are important ones, but overall it is way too many foul words for me....and I cuss at least once on any given day.
2