Jul 04 2024
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Cloud Nine
The Temptations
groovy
4
Jul 05 2024
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Be
Common
nice hip hop grooves, produced by Kanye. Not one I'll go back to very often though. 67/100
3
Jul 08 2024
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
jazz classic, what more to be said.
5
Jul 09 2024
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2000s indie, standard enough. Heads Will Roll, Soft Shock and Skeltons were my song highlights (latter especially). Decent 3.28 star I'd say. Like the electronic influences.
3
Jul 10 2024
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Bad
Michael Jackson
The third of four on the magical Off the Wall - Thriller - Bad - Dangerous run from Michael Jackson. How to follow up from Thriller, the greatest selling album of all time?
Mr Jackson wanted to sell 100,000,000 copies of Bad (Thriller sold 72m) but never reached such a level with this. And if I'm honest, although it's a very solid album, I think it's the weakest on this incredible four album run.
This album did encourage me to go on a Michael Jackson marathon and boy was that a wonderful journey. Very interesting to see all the other names and characters that were involved in the development of this album and music videos (Martin Scorsese directed the video for the song Bad, which was supposed to be a duet with Prince!). Also being reminded of how important dance was to MJ by watching some of the music videos associated to the album (or short films, as he liked to call them).
4.2 stars. Liberian girl may have been my favourite revelation from this listen.
4
Jul 11 2024
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Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
some nice songs but I spent most of the time waiting for it to be over.
2.4 stars as there are some lovely basslines and some of the songs hit well.
2
Jul 12 2024
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Savane
Ali Farka Touré
what a refreshing listen! I hope this list will have more global music like this, it really opens the mind.
A very pleasant listen. At the start I was a bit unsure of what I thought of it, but it built very well as the album progressed.
Have never heard music from Mali before, but will definitely go on the search for more West African music now!
A solid 4 stars from me. Will return.
Favourite songs:
Savane
Soya
Machengoidi
Soko Yhinka
Banga
4
Jul 15 2024
View Album
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
This put me on a long overdue Led Zeppelin marathon. In doing this, I could put some perspective on where this particular album stands in their collection. Definitely an interesting listen, a solid 3.8 stars (rounded up to 4) for me.
The Rover and Kashmir as my favourite songs. I do think it was slightly too long though, at 82 minutes.
Nonetheless, good starting point for a timeless band.
4
Jul 16 2024
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In Utero
Nirvana
ughhhh. While I can respect the impact Nirvana have had on music, they're the first band I've come across on this that I really wanted to turn off halfway through. However, "Heart-Shaped Box", "Pennyroyal Tea", and "All Apologies" were all decent listens.
Deciding between 2 and 3 stars presented quite the dilemma. Go with my gut, basing it solely off the music I heard and give them two? Or try to claim that "I understood them" and give them three for street cred?
Ultimately decided on the former. Nevermind is the only Nirvana album I can struggle through.
2
Jul 17 2024
View Album
The World is a Ghetto
War
Very funky. Makes me want to explore the US more. Ghettos and all.
Favourite song:
Cisco Kid
Very honourable mention to the three long tracks in a row:
City, Country, City
Four Cornered Room
The World is a Ghetto
Great find.
4
Jul 18 2024
View Album
American Gothic
David Ackles
This looked promising. Cool album cover. Description had me initially sold - a chance to find an overlooked, forgotten gem? Couldn't wait.
But ultimately, a very average album. Nice in parts, with "Another Friday Night" and "Waiting for the Moving Van" being good listens, but ultimately nothing to really note here. Not sure it deserves a spot on this list tbh.
Sounded like a cheesy movie in parts. I really wanted to love this album; become one of Mr Arckles' few listeners on Spotify. But oh well.
A not unpleasant but ultimately uninspiring 2*.
2
Jul 19 2024
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En-Tact
The Shamen
nah.
Human NRG and Possible Worlds showed promise and bump it up to 1.8 stars, which I'll round off to 2 for generosity's sake.
2
Jul 22 2024
View Album
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes' (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) "Shake your Money Maker" is not my cup of tea to be honest. Sounds very ZZ Top to me, or like something you'd hear on the movie "Cars". Not necessarily bad things, but just not my favourite type of music.
Favourite songs:
Seeing Things
She Talks to Angels (written by one of the band members when they were 15!)
3.3* for me.
3
Jul 23 2024
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
Wow, what an album. Perfect length, amazing atmosphere, booming bass, Robert Smith's unique vocals.
The Cure's second album, recorded on a low budget (the song "The Final Sound" was supposed to be more than 52 seconds but they ran out of tape).
I saved most of the album to my "album era playlist", a first on this run of album listens. I also immediately played the entire album again upon finishing. A good sign! I imagine myself coming back to this album regularly.
Favourites:
Play for Today
Secrets
In Your House
A Forest
M
At Night
Seventeen Seconds
5 stars. Best I've heard thus far here.
5
Jul 24 2024
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Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
Vulgar is probably the best way of describing this album, for better and for worse. Was interesting though. A low 3 stars.
3
Jul 25 2024
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Kimono My House
Sparks
oh man, I just found this album annoying. Probably cruel to give it my first one star as I'm sure much worse will follow, but I just got nothing from this and two stars seems too generous.
vocals were more annoying than anything I've ever heard.
1
Jul 26 2024
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25
Adele
looking at the writers' credits for this album was an education in the who's who of pop production. Max Martin, Greg Kurstin, Bruno Mars, even Rick Rubin who was unimpressed by an earlier version of the album.
Following up 19 (my personal favourite of hers) and 21 was always going to be difficult, and Adele claimed she suffered writer's block for years. Working with those at the forefront of pop production always helps! But ultimately I think this falls a bit flat compared to her older stuff. Less soul behind it.
Of course, vocal performance as always was stunning, but it was brought down by "safe" songwriting and an overly-pop feel (I understand why she went further down that route though - the album was credited with saving the pop music industry the year it came out!). Also interesting to note that all the other big names in pop music (apart from Coldplay) rescheduled release dates to avoid chart competition with Adele. Some power!
Favourite songs:
When We Were Young (co-written with Tobias Jesso Jr.)
Love in the Dark (co-written with Samuel Dixon)
Million Years Ago (co-written with Greg Kurstin)
All I Ask (co-written with Bruno Mars and his entourage - and it indeed sounds like a quintessential Bruno Mars song...)
Sweetest Devotion (co-written with Paul Epworth, some nice instumentals on this one)
I hope that this is not the only Adele album they chose for this list. If it is, I really wonder why 19 or even 21 weren't chosen instead.
3.3*
3
Jul 29 2024
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21
Adele
The best-selling album of the 21st century. A number one album in countries as diverse as Brazil and Denmark, South Africa and Mexico, Argentina and Hungary.
21 seems simple in its premise: a break-up album with rare occasions for other topics. If you take a step back and think about it as a piece of art written by one person about another, it is deeply personal - yet it resonates with a good chunk of the world. I guess most people have been through a relationship breaking down (?)
The guy-who-is-everywhere-but-nowhere, Rick Rubin, was supposed to produce the entire album, but in the end only produced 3 songs I believe. Adele chose to keep the more raw-sounding versions she had created with other producers during or just after her break up. Indeed, she was told to add some layers to Someone Like You, the simple piano and vocals deemed to be too little. Thankfully she decided to retain it as is.
It's hard to overstate the universal success this album was, winning awards left and right, breaking sales records, across many countries.
The music itself is a refreshing mix of styles, from soul to country to ballad and a few things in between. I had forgotten how good it was (and indeed, think it builds beautifully on 19). Turning Tables is a special song, I really felt a wealth of emotions when listening to it. Other honourable metions are:
Take it All
I'll be Waiting
One and Only
Lovesong (a cover of The Cure! Very well done)
Someone Like You
Indeed, the "b-side" of this album is popular music at its absolute finest. First side is slightly less interesting but still shows moments of brillance.
Nostalgia factor is very high on this too, I remember listening to it when I was a kid, played on repeat by both my mother and father.
A solid 4.2 stars. Beautiful stuff.
(P.S., in a true random fashion, this album came up for me the day after Adele's 25. This album is on a completely different level to that)
(P.S.S., I was going to give this 5* but a weekend of reflection brings it down to 4)
4
Jul 30 2024
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Marquee Moon
Television
nice basslines
3.6 rounded up to 4.
Marquee Moon
Guiding Light
Torn Curtain
4
Jul 31 2024
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Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
I'm all for experimentation in music but it has to have some redeeming quality. This has nothing.
1
Aug 01 2024
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I Against I
Bad Brains
standard enough rock album, nothing stand-out for me.
2
Aug 02 2024
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Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
some interesting lyrics, pleasant to listen to, but nothing special really.
2.5 stars, rounded down.
2
Aug 06 2024
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Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
3
Aug 07 2024
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
Never gave Arcade Fire a chance before this listen. Brilliant stuff - a nice mix of light rock, electronic elements and interesting subject matters, as a man of the suburbs too.
Favourite songs:
The Suburbs
Ready to Start
Half Light I
Half Light II (No Celebration)
Suburban War
Wasted Hours
We Used to Wait
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Think I'll definitely be returing to this. 4.3 stars
4
Aug 08 2024
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
what a journey. Among the greatest hip-hop albums I've listened to. 5 stars.
5
Aug 09 2024
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Live!
Fela Kuti
3
Aug 12 2024
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
Sign of the Times was a great start to the album. After that I quickly lost interest. Stopped halfway - was far from being unlistenable, but was just very meh.
2
Aug 13 2024
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Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
Livin' on a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name, Wanted Dead or Alive
are three great songs. The rest is corny thrash.
Has aged very poorly. 2*
2
Aug 14 2024
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Harvest
Neil Young
A very pleasant listen.
Out on the Weekend started it off very nicely.
Heart of Gold is an absolute gem.
Old Man was lovely.
Words (Between the Lines of Age) was a cool way to end it.
Apparently Young made this mostly acoustic due to a back(?) injury he picked up on his ranch.
Easy 4 stars, but the other songs, although pleasant, were not very memorable.
4
Aug 15 2024
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With The Beatles
Beatles
Ehhhhh...
Looking forward to listening to their later work, to understand how they went from being a cheesy cover band of American rock 'n' roll hits (they do have original stuff here too but strinkingly unoriginal) to THE BEATLES. Because listening to their first two albums makes it seem to me that they could easily have vanished after these and lost to time. Nothing special at all.
Don't get me wrong, it's pleasant enough music to listen to, especially if you want to be transported to an American road-side diner in the 1950s. But the fact these lads were from Liverpool makes it all the less authentic. I'd listen to the music that these songs cover/mimic, listen to the Beatles later stuff, but I won't be returning to this... ever.
Can't see why it's on this list, unless it's just to show how much they developed in such a short time...
2
Aug 16 2024
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The Man Machine
Kraftwerk
What a listen. Then understanding the impact Kraftwerk had on music, an easy 5 stars.
Every song is an absolute tune. I feel like The Model was already very familiar to me somehow, but it hits hard as the lead single.
Neon lights is brilliant too, U2 actually did a cover of it on their Vertigo single. Also learnt that Talk is strongly based on Computer Love by Kraftwerk!
Anyway, a classic album that has aged spectacularly. Shout-out to the German language version too. 5 star brilliance.
5
Aug 19 2024
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Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
pleasant, nothing more nor less
3
Aug 20 2024
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Tapestry
Carole King
A very pleasant listen.
Carole King was undoubtedly a songwriting genius, and I have much respect for her.
It's too late
You've got a friend
(You make me feel like) A natural woman
are the standouts.
However, I just gave Cat Stevens 3* for Tillerman, and this is a similar vibe, so I'll have to give the same here. Pleasant but wouldn't be rushing back to it.
3
Aug 21 2024
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
just meh
2
Aug 22 2024
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Expected more from Radiohead. Some good songs:
Sail to the Moon
Backdrifts
There, There
Scatterbrain
but rather uninspiring stuff. Cool album cover though.
3
Aug 23 2024
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
tears for fears man!
can hear the vague kraftwerk influences.
some parts of the album are a bit of a drag but overall great stuff.
3.8*
4
Aug 26 2024
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
easy listening but rewarding at the same time. 4 stars!
4
Aug 27 2024
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
neat.
Don't enjoy Black Dog and Rock and Roll to be honest, but rest of album is solid.
The Battle of Evermore
Stairway to Heaven (albeit overplayed)
Going to California
When the Levee Breaks
are classics. Going to California is one of my favourite Led Zeppelin songs.
1971!
4
Aug 28 2024
View Album
3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of...
Arrested Development
guess there's a reason why "gangsta rap" is king.
Not as bad as I thought it would be though
3
Aug 29 2024
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AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Ice Cube
An enjoyable listen, probably won't be rushing back to it as the lyrical content is a bit grating at times.
Favourite songs:
The Nigga Ya Love to Hate
Once Upon a Time in the Projects
Endangered Species
A Gangsta's Fairytale (my favourite of album)
Who's the Mack
It's a Man's World
Why are hip-hop albums so long?
3
Aug 30 2024
View Album
The College Dropout
Kanye West
Wow! Production top-class, lyrics interesting and a welcome break from gangsta rap, incredible range of samples used. There's not one filler song here. Hip-Hop at its absolute finest.
Love the skits too, as a degree holder it's a nice kick in the teeth from a different perspective. Last Call is an epic way of finishing it all off.
Watched the Kanye documentary about Coodie and Chike a few weeks before listening to this, gave a great background on what the man went through to get to the point of being able to release this album.
A producer, and a rapper?! One for the ages. Kanye is a lot of things, but he's undoubtedly a musical genuis too.
5
Sep 02 2024
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
poetic masterpiece that is very pleasant to listen to. High 4* from me.
4
Sep 03 2024
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
bad moon rising and lodi were highlights. Pleasant but not the most memorable.
3
Sep 04 2024
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Different Class
Pulp
some fun, but mostly meh. 2.5 stars. Britpop...
2
Sep 05 2024
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Live 1966 (The Royal Albert Hall Concert)
Bob Dylan
very, very boring. Some hits bring it up from a one star rating
2
Sep 06 2024
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
cool album, had low expectations as the album cover was so basic. Picture of the three main members peaked my interest though.
Started well.
I repeated Family Tree and Love Dog straight away.
DLZ also a decent bop.
Was going to give a (high) 3 stars but in the end it was a fun and interesting listen, deserving a (low) 4 stars.
4
Sep 09 2024
View Album
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
An album that starts with Gimme Shelter is always going to be pretty damn good. Love in Vain continues well. Some decent but somewhat forgetable songs until we get to the last part of the album, with Monkey Man and You Can't Always Get What You Want finishing it off strongly. 4.25*
4
Sep 10 2024
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Two Rolling Stones in a row. Nothing on Let It Bleed in my eyes. Wild Horses is an absolute classic though.
3
Sep 11 2024
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Loved the mix of genres, and there were some interesting songs along the way. However, parts of the album were rather boring. Disappointingly so -- just not much going on.
Re-hash, Clint Eastwood, Sound Check (Gravity), Rock the House as my favourites.
With the exploration of different genres, it did sound a bit cheesy at times, like lowest common denominator stuff for a given genre.
None other than Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista fame showing up for Latin Simone (Que Pasa Contigo) brings it up to a low 4* for me.
David Albarn is a musical genius, but better things were to come from the Gorillaz.
3.6* to be exact
4
Sep 12 2024
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
ok, sounded like the Beatles a lot of the time
3
Sep 13 2024
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American Idiot
Green Day
wanted to give this five stars but it falls just short with a few songs I don't care much for. But when it hits, it hits hard. Are We the Waiting is my favourite.
Grew up with this, never really knew what it represented. Nor that Green Day had another album ready to go and the master tapes were stolen, then they went back to the drawing board.
Also annoying that on Spotify they merge most of the songs together (apparently because the original digital release was on iTunes and they wanted to retain gapless playback between those songs).
Anyway, a high four stars from me!
4
Sep 16 2024
View Album
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
First of all, brilliant album cover.
Reading about the history of Elvis is rather interesting. One can't say simply that Elvis simply "stole" African-American music and made it white in a time where racial segregation was still unfortunately prevalent. Of course, he was strongly influenced by this music, but he had the vision to bring it to a new (white) audience. And it appears he was well aware of the debt he had to the black performers that came before him.
There's an argument that his music helped to reduce the boundaries between white and black culture at the time and that seems fair.
Then to the rather immense cultural impact Elvis had. He was one of the first sex symbols, potentially.
Some quotes from wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_impact_of_Elvis_Presley#Danger_to_American_culture):
Frank Sinatra opined: "His kind of music is deplorable, a rancid smelling aphrodisiac. It fosters almost totally negative and destructive reactions in young people"
His actions and motions were called "a strip-tease with clothes on" or "sexual self-gratification on stage".
In August 1956 in Jacksonville, Florida, a local juvenile court judge called Presley a "savage" and threatened to arrest him if he shook his body while performing at Jacksonville's Florida Theatre...
Sounds crazy now, but Elvis shook up the music game quite significantly.
The music, from 1956(!), is still a pleasant listen today - albeit somewhat cheesy at times. Can't give anything but a 5*, all things considered. Great stuff.
5
Sep 17 2024
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Thriller
Michael Jackson
A classic. A few weaker songs bring it down from 5 to a high 4*
4
Sep 18 2024
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Scream, Dracula, Scream
Rocket From The Crypt
not sure why this album is on here. Very average.
2
Sep 20 2024
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Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Nice for a change! However, in my ignorance, and not understanding the language sung in, it did get a bit too repetitive for me, and it was very long.
3
Sep 23 2024
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
vibey
4
Sep 26 2024
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Expecting more with Eno tbh. Beauty Queen and Bogus Man were interesting. Not bad, but probably won't return
3
Sep 30 2024
View Album
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Listening to Black bloody Sabbath and enjoying it, thoroughly? Who'd have guessed it.
Wheels of Confusion, Changes and Laguna Sunrise as my favourites.
Listened to this while walking along the Seine from Trocadero to Monnaie, odd choice for such a setting but it worked!
4
Oct 01 2024
View Album
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
Have been listening to a lot of hip-hop recently, and while I can appreciate the art, I found it to be less pleasing to listen to than most of the hip-hop I've listened to (including from this era).
Political message is interesting! But not as easy on the ear as the hip-hop I'm more familar with.
3.5 star rounded down
3
Oct 02 2024
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Drunk
Thundercat
groovy, jazzy, funky, soul-y. Lovely stuff.
4
Oct 03 2024
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Smash
The Offspring
why so angry man? one song brought it up from 0, not bothered to remember which
2
Oct 07 2024
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Garbage
Garbage
just garbage, man.
From the silent gaps on Supervixen to the distortions on Stupid Girl, and much in between, a very rewarding listen.
Milk is my favourite song. For some reason, I don't really like "only happy when it rains", despite it's popularity.
I remember seeing this album as a kid as my parents owned a CD, had never listened to it before though.
4.5 star and not pure perfection as the 5 star suggests, but nonetheless, a fantastic listen.
5
Oct 08 2024
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
Great listen, The Doors always hit the mark!
However, not as enjoyable as Strange Days nor their self-titled debut for me. Too bluesy.
Hyacinth House and Riders on the Storm were my favourite songs, with honourable mentions for Love Her Madly, Car Hiss by My Window and LA Woman.
4
Oct 09 2024
View Album
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
3.5 stars, not quite worthy of a four.
Love Led Zeppelin, and there are some interesting songs on this album, but overall it may be my least favourite of their albums.
Music seems quasi-directionless at times.
Decent listen nonetheless!
3
Oct 10 2024
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
meh with a side of ok
2
Oct 11 2024
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Rocks
Aerosmith
rock, but too much roll
3
Oct 14 2024
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
i never would have listened to this album would it not have been for this list. Black Sabbath as a name scared me off. Glad I listened though, brilliant album.
Paranoid, Planet Caravan and Iron Man was quite the run of songs. Still a bit too heavy in parts for my personal tastes but good stuff!
4
Oct 15 2024
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Revolver
Beatles
I used to be a Beatles-sceptic. This is the second time I listen to this album through. I am now starting to understand the hype for the Beatles (their earlier stuff was not at all to my tastes and seemed rather generic, but this is gold).
Can't decide between 4 and 5, I think it's exactly 4.5 star but I'll round up (with some hesitation)
5
Oct 16 2024
View Album
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Listened to this on CD, as I thought I should have at least one Chili album in my collection, although I wasn't a big fan of their work. Wanted to give it another try, and wasn't disappointed. Brilliant listen.
4
Oct 17 2024
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Music From Big Pink
The Band
Another good find! I'd give it a 3.6 but will round down to 3. Tears of Rage, Chest Fever and I shall be Released were my favourites.
3
Oct 18 2024
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The Sensual World
Kate Bush
Knew the name, not the music. Cool album, probably won't be revisiting but was nice while it lasted.
Sensual World, The Fog, Never be Mine, This Woman's Work were my favourite songs. Did not expect Sensual World to be celtic!
3
Oct 21 2024
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
WOW! Another artist I probably would have never listened to a full album from, had it not been for this list. What an incredibly pleasant listen. Comforting, to a level little music/art in general can reach.
The title song is beautiful. She has some voice.
5
Oct 22 2024
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A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
An inoffensive Beatles record. Fun listen.
If I Fell, Can't Buy Me Love, Things We Said Today, You Can't Do That were my favourites.
Absolute favourite was "And I Love Her", however. Fantastic song altogether.
Feck it, is this list driving me to liking The Beatles? (this was their first album that I found anything of note in)
3
Oct 23 2024
View Album
Homework
Daft Punk
What a bloody album. Didn't expect to enjoy it so much, even as a house lover (thought house was best consumed in mixes or singles).
Listened to this walking around the mean streets of the 17th and 18th Arrondissements of Paris, stopping at a cool looking bar and just taking this album in in its home ground.
5*, without doubt.
5
Oct 24 2024
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Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
Some moments of beauty, interrupted by some odd sounding human-made sounds. Shame, in a way.
Also really stumped as to how this album reached such popularity - I know the movie contributed a lot, but still. In a way, nice to see people being so open to such an album!
3
Oct 25 2024
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I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Richard Thompson
Decent enough! Calvary Cross and Great Valerio were cool. Probably won't return much but pleasant while it lasted
3
Oct 28 2024
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
disco funk brilliance from this philly sister group. Shoutout to the ever-groovy Nile Rodgers too.
easier to love was my favourite song, great bop.
Probably wouldn't have bothered with this album had it not been for this list!
4
Oct 29 2024
View Album
Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
A very decent alternative rock album from the guys from Athens, Georgia. Following directly on from their wildly successful Out of Time, it was probably R.E.M.'s most productive writing time.
Was afraid that the non-singles on the album would not reach the heights of Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon, but for the most part they delivered. Liked Star Me Kitten especially.
3.8 stars, rounded up!
4
Oct 30 2024
View Album
Abbey Road
Beatles
I finally get the Beatles hype. This website, and the persistent insistence of some (read one) friend, has brought me to the dark side.
Not sure whether this or Revolver is my favourite of theirs, but damn is it good. For 1969 too! Easy to hate the Beatles at a superficial level, but once you give them a chance, any music lover would have to take something from them.
Because and Sun King as my personal favourites (both Lennon), but shout out to Harrison's contributions too, very enjoyable.
I agreed with the rest of the Beatles' assessment of McCartney's Maxwell's Silver Hammer (not bad, but cheesy enough, didn't like.) I also agreed with Lennon that Mean Mr Mustard and Polythene Pam were "a bit of crap I wrote in India". But other than that, a top top album.
5*, a worthy milestone in music.
5
Oct 31 2024
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
Country, what a sound. All sounded the same to me ultimately, but it was pleasant enough background music. 2 star is a bit too low, so low 3 star for me!
3
Nov 01 2024
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Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
An interesting reggae album with punchy and important topics covered
3
Nov 04 2024
View Album
That's The Way Of The World
Earth, Wind & Fire
funky soul brilliance. Not quite 4 star but 3 star is far too low too. 3.67 for me.
That's the Way of the World, All About Love (First Impressions), Reasons as the standouts for me.
EWF originated in Chicago, but on Spotify they're most listened to in Santiago, Chile and Mexico City, then Paris! Worldwide appeal.
3
Nov 05 2024
View Album
Play
Moby
A strong 4 from me. Absolute gem of an album. Moby may be the most uncool DJ of all time, but he makes (made?) some great music.
4
Nov 06 2024
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Duck Rock
Malcolm McLaren
Don't understand all the hate for this album on here. What a great exploration of different genres from the Americas. And I mean, for all the hate over the appropriation of hip-hop by a British white dude, Eminem went and created one of his catchiest songs from one of said gringe hip-hop songs. Solid 3* from me, interesting listen.
3
Nov 07 2024
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
A bit odd. The Gift was oddly satisfying to listen to. Prefer their other stuff.
3
Nov 08 2024
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
What a fine jazz album. Easy but fun listening.
4
Nov 11 2024
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Thanks Taylor for the inspiration. You helped produce an album Kanye will probably never top.
Got this on CD at an Oxfam in Paris for €3, and was reminded about just how damn good the album is. The first Kanye album I can remember listening to as a kid. I've since put on this CD with friends over and we all agree - it's just hit after damn hit.
5* for me, no bad songs on the album. All of the Lights (interlude) as my absolute favourite for sheer beauty.
Well played, Mr West!
5
Nov 12 2024
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London Calling
The Clash
A deserved classic. Favourite songs were:
London Calling
Spanish Bombs
The Card Cheat
Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
Making Elvis' iconic album cover even more iconic.
4
Nov 13 2024
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
groovy, but missing something I can't quite put my hand on.
3
Nov 14 2024
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A Date With The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers
A very pleasant listen. Can imagine my grandparents listening to this back in the early '60s.
Music from this era is often very hit or miss, but this album hit the spot. Their voices are like chocolate melting.
4*
4
Nov 15 2024
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
Interesting listen from 1969
3
Nov 18 2024
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
Shane MacGowan and the gang have produced a masterpiece here. Listened to it 3 times in a row.
A beautiful mix of traditional Irish with some world music and punk.
Always liked the Pogues but couldn't get through a full album with my previous music tastes. Now it flows like water.
A poetic look into the Irish diaspora experience.
5*
5
Nov 19 2024
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Derek & The Dominos. I know it's a double album, but still felt a bit too long. However, the music was damn fine. Clapton and co. at the top of their game.
Favourite songs:
Nobody knows you when you're down and out
I Am Yours
Little Wing
Layla (of course... second half was quite the adventure too)
Thorn Tree in the Garden
Bluesy wonders. High 3* for me (rounded up)
4
Nov 20 2024
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Sunshine Hit Me
The Bees
Wow, what a revelation. Thought it would be yet another British album that was included on this list for less than impartial reasons, but I absolutely loved it.
What an interesting album!
Honestly saved more than half of it. Brilliant stuff, what a mix of genres. Reminded me of the Winnie the Pooh world and forests in rural Dublin/Wicklow.
4
Nov 21 2024
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The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
Jaysus. Had just about enough to make it a high 1*, rounded up to 2*
2
Nov 22 2024
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Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
Another cheap British white guys imitation of Black music. The author of this list certainly let his British biases shine through, and this is a prime example of this.
It wasn't even that bad until it got to the incredibly cringe "A Gospel".
I'm all for musicians taking styles from different peoples and bringing forward the art, but this is just a cheap imitation. Give me the original stuff that predates this by about 20/30 years.
2
Nov 25 2024
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
fun jazz record, still think I can only really appreciate the genre fully when it's performed live
3
Nov 26 2024
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
brilliant
4
Nov 27 2024
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Wanted to like this, and I appreciate the impact it had on hip-hop, but I just don't get as much out of this as expected. Far from my favourite style of hip-hop. Oh well!
3
Nov 28 2024
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
Some great songs, and some absolutely awful songs. Pt 1 is my favourite.
3
Nov 29 2024
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
A high 3* album. Great fun, and some nice hits. Made mostly by one fella who was sick of shitty session musicians. Awesome.
3
Dec 02 2024
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The Cars
The Cars
Second half brought it up to 4 stars for me - Moving in Stereo in particular was a stand-out. Love The Cars, Heartbeat City is my favourite album but this is a fine beginning to their career too.
Boston, baby!
4
Dec 03 2024
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Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
Went for the UK version. Really enjoyed some songs, others not so much. Also wasn't as musically revolutionary as the wiki overview teased at. I guess it was the 60s though...
3
Dec 04 2024
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Headquarters
The Monkees
God no. Just felt fake. Turns out it is, to a certain extent. It's rare to get music that sounds so ok but is just annoying me the entire time. 1* would be my current preference but I know that's unfair.
2
Dec 05 2024
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1984
Van Halen
basic-sounding rock, boring enough. Jump is great though. Just not a big fan of this era/pop rock
2
Dec 06 2024
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Make Yourself
Incubus
Red Hot Chilli Peppers do metal. Not the biggest fan of the genre tbh, can't stand guitars making the noises they do in metal.
However, this had a few songs that were quite nice actually. The Warmth and Drive were saved. I Miss You is okay too.
I'd give it 58/100, I'll give it a (low) 3* so
3
Dec 09 2024
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Moving Pictures
Rush
When prog rock is good, it's great. When it misses, it makes me cry. This is in the latter camp unfortunately. Will not remember one song from this album. Last part, after the 10min wander, was decent though. A 2* that is unfair but displays my disappointment.
2
Dec 10 2024
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Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
Absolutely awesome. If you find a better six songs to launch a debut album, I need to find out more (john.cena@gmail.com).
Listened to this for the first time in an incredible seaside town in Western Italy this summer. Blue skies, blue sea, beautiful women, blissful scenes. The perfect music to accompany it.
Have yet to find a Steely Dan album that gets close to this masterpiece.
5
Dec 11 2024
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
Another one of the Kraftwerk-influenced UK synth-pop groups. Nice combo.
Love is a Stranger and Sweet Dreams as favourites. Nothing too innovative here but easy to listen to.
3
Dec 13 2024
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
boringggggggggggggggg
2
Dec 16 2024
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
Very mellow, but interesting for an easy-listening piece.
Reminds me of the Wicklow Mountains and my father, who loves this album.
Recorded in NYC by an Indian-American!
4