Jul 12 2024
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My Generation
The Who
Nice, some songs surprisingly Beatles like. Entwistle's bass is interesting. Did not move me very much emotionally but a pleasant listen with no bad songs on the album.
3
Jul 13 2024
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
Sounds very familiar of course. Great songwriting, great vocal harmonies. Just not for me. Too goody-goody and too reminiscent of priests.
4
Jul 14 2024
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Something Else By The Kinks
The Kinks
Not a connoisseur of the Kinks but I like some of their songs, so had fairly high expectations of this album. I was quite disappointed, and would have skipped several songs of I hadn't committed to listening to the entire album. I was quite bored. There is a nice Englishness about the album and I'm sure it was influential, but not really for me. Not a fan of Ray Davies' vocals and most songs did not move me at all. Melodically the songs are good/ very good but lacking in other aspects of musicality for me (I like songs like You Really Got Me better, but it's not on this album).
2
Jul 15 2024
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
Great that I "had to" listen to this album again since a long time. One of the more intimate REM ones, and I love it (I also love their earlier work). Lots of fabulous songs and the opening track (Drive)... superb as are Night Swimming, Everybody Hurts and pretty much the entire album.
5
Jul 16 2024
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
It works for me. Sort of heavy bluesy metal. Doesn't get a five because it's musically quite simple, based on a good guitar groove, usually picked up by the bass too. Ozzy's recognisable vocals. Songs are all quite similar; I like this sound but tire of it quite quickly. But, it does what it does, very well.
3
Jul 17 2024
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
I liked this more than I thought I would! I only knew one song but I think the whole album could grow on me (even if not 100% my cup of tea). There is some seriously good musicianship and the songs sound fresh even 50 years later. No bad songs on the album (and there are some SW songs I really don't like like Cherie Amour). A chilled, quite poppy album, nothing offensive or overly cheesy here.
4
Jul 18 2024
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On The Beach
Neil Young
Even though I am a Neil Young fan, I didn't know this album. I enjoyed it! Not quite like Harvest or After The Gold Rush but the songs are very good, just maybe a bit less "wow", but great all the same.
4
Jul 19 2024
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Permission to Land
The Darkness
Great album, it rocks, has nice grooves, excellent vocals, there's an element of fun too. Would be even better live than recorded I'd think.
4
Jul 20 2024
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan fan here so what can I say... a great record and reminds me of my student years (not that I studied in the '70s). Beautiful melodies, great storytelling.
5
Jul 21 2024
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Post Orgasmic Chill
Skunk Anansie
I was looking forward to this album... Skunk Anansie was part of life when I was a student and I saw them live, and liked it them. However I didn't enjoy this album. I was actually really happy when it was over, musically not bad but not genius either, a bit monotonous and I found Skin's vocals (which I used to find interesting, and I like Skin as a person and role model) quite tiring and shouty. They have even thrown in an operatic voice at some point, which was lost on me. This has unfortunately not aged well for me.
2
Jul 22 2024
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Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
I went back and forth between mild enjoyment and boredom. This album has elements of hip-hop, rock and pop; I normally like cross-over but in this case it didn't really work for me. The lyrics did not save the day. OK for a few songs but not an entire album for me. Not sure if this is a must-hear album.
2
Jul 23 2024
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The Clash
The Clash
This is really well made punk, maybe it sounds even " too good"? After all, punk is not supposed to be about clever musicality, it is about raw expression of emotion (usually anger). So maybe I like the Sex Pistols better, or laer punk crossovers. But, this is a very good album and Simonon is a great and a bit of a musician's bassist.
4
Jul 24 2024
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Vespertine
Björk
Of course I know Björk but not this album. I never was a true fan (for some reason I viscerally hate "It' Oh So Quiet"), mostly because of the Marmite vocals that can border on vocal acrobatics to my ears. BUT I not so in this album, which I liked. All songs are good (I like the last one best I think), atmospheric, and this album definitely has a place among the 1001.
4
Jul 25 2024
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
An interesting discovery! In a way, I'm not sure what to think of it, it is an eclectic mish-mash. There's 60s, surf, glam rock, a bit of grunge,... but it's really well done. I need to listen to this more and see how it develops. Extra stars for creativity and musicianship, and it's made within miles from where I live!
4
Jul 26 2024
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Abbey Road
Beatles
Like most Beatles albums, it has some songs I really like (Come Together, Here Comes The Sun) but also some songs that I can't stand, on this album for example Maxwell's Silver Hammer (on other albums songs like Yellow Submarine and Hey Jude). But overall, one can't ignore that this is a very creative and influential album... for these reasons I should certainly give it a 5 and it is absolutely a "must hear" album. But 4 it will be for me just because I don't really enjoy it as a full album.
4
Jul 27 2024
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
An album full of greats songs. I love Dusty's recognisable voice and the music/orchestration is great too. Listening to this album I feel like it sounds just right. There are no bad songs. Is it a 4 or a 5? Go on then, a 5.
5
Jul 28 2024
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The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
You could say the songs are a bit samey but I'd call it consistency which is a good thing when in the mood for this album. I love it; no bad songs and a few really good ones. This is early synth pop (?) and, with Kraftwerk, sounds like it but it stays fresh even today.
4
Jul 29 2024
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Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Does not sound unpleasant, it is cheerful and could be good for parties. Musically it is very simple/ a bit boring though; bog standard pop time measures and chord changes. I wouldn't "listen" to this album, it would be background at best. So, can't give it more than 2* even though it sounds alright (like a million other pop albums).
2
Jul 30 2024
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Moon Safari
Air
I have this album and I always come back to it. I'll give it 5* because it's perfect (for me) in what it does. Very atmospheric, creative, and it just sounds great. Acoustic and electronic instruments well mixed.
5
Jul 31 2024
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Abraxas
Santana
This is a five for me. A genius guitarist who does not "show off" but always prioritises musicality. Very recognisable style yet varied and never boring. I'm not that much into latin styles but this is fantastic. I knew several songs from the album but never listened to it in its entirety. Every song is good. For all these reasons and because Santana is really influential, a decent five.
5
Aug 01 2024
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Diamond Life
Sade
A very sensual, smooth album. Sade has a great voice but the musicians (esp. the rhythm section) are great too. Great to chill.
4
Aug 10 2024
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Femi Kuti
Femi Kuti
Very funky, I love it! I only wished it wasn't as full on the whole time, a bit more dynamics (quieter sections) would have been easier on the ears. But, fabulous musicianship and so much fun.
4
Aug 11 2024
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Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
Atmospheric and I generally love the sound but none of the songs moves me. It is really mostly about the soundscape and I wouldn't play this for a proper listen, it's (good) background music for me. I like better find this a very hard album to score... on a good day I could give it a 4 and on a bad day a 2. A three then.
3
Aug 12 2024
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Fromohio
fIREHOSE
Another hard one to score. Lo-fi, sometimes folky, sometimes rocky and Pixies reminiscent, even a bit of disco. I like the sound but it doesn't really move me. Not sure if this is a "must hear" album. On a good day it's a 3.
3
Aug 13 2024
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
I was really looking forward to this album... I like Otis Redding and this is supposedly his best album (I must admit I had never listen to a full Redding album before). I still like Otis Redding but this album is only a 3 for me. The reasons are that I find it hart to give a very high score for a (mostly) cover album. Redding only wrote three of the songs. And for the music, he could count on the Stax session musicians (which are amazing), it's not "his" band. Also, the songs sound great, but a bit same-ish.
3
Aug 14 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
I saw the film on a plane and bought the CD soon after. People say a lot about political (in)correctness of the Gangsta Rap album (first of its kind?) but I think that's missing the point. This is definitely an album where it's not just about the tunes, but also about the context. I find this a very authentic album and culturally very important. Just for that it is definitely a Must Hear album. Does it sound good too? To me, yes (and I'm not a real rap fan).
5
Aug 15 2024
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Ys
Joanna Newsom
Phew, glad this is over. It started alright... interesting voice, the courage to make long (about 10') songs anno 2024. But I got tired of it really quickly and it was a struggle to finish the album. If you have a very characteristic voice it helps to vary the actual songs, ore use your voice differently, but she doesn't. All songs are long and sound the same (actually, in that sense an album of fifty 1' songs would not have sounded much different). Folky, same singing style, same sprinkle of harp (it doesn't help I'm nor really into folk any more and don't like harp). I'll give it a 2 because it is not without merit. Bur definitely not a must-hear album for me.
2
Aug 16 2024
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
Totally not my thing, but being "forced" to listen to the album I must say it is really well made and the vocals are great (Beyoncé and the others, and their harmonies). Musically not daft either. I got a bit tired of it towards the end but I feel for its legacy it deserves a place among the 1001. Great album if you're into slick, well (overly?) produced commercial, poppy soul I suppose. Not my taste. But well made.
3