Jul 25 2024
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Document
R.E.M.
Somehow survived the 90s without ever listening to an REM album! This was very REM. Some great songs there but I like them better as singles.
3
Jul 26 2024
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Raw Power
The Stooges
Listened to Bowie mix.
3
Jul 29 2024
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
This starts with Tutti Frutti, continues with songs that sound like Tutti Frutti, and leaves you with Tutti Frutti in your head until the end of time. Infernally catchy, enjoyable but may never listen to it again.
3
Jul 30 2024
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Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
Not objectionable but dance electronic not really my thing
2
Jul 31 2024
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
I’ve never enjoyed rap music (I lack the vocabulary to define why) and was expecting to rate this album a 2, but I listened to it a couple of times and it grew on me—I might even listen again! This kind of discovery is why I am doing One Album a Day.
3
Aug 01 2024
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The World is a Ghetto
War
Cannot believe I had never heard this or heard of it given how many hours I have spent on late ‘60s/early ‘70s Spotify playlists. Great stuff—giving four stars because five is reserved for proven favourites over time, but this could get there.
4
Aug 02 2024
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
Not my favourite work by them - the title track is a favourite but the rest of the album blurred into one for me.
3
Aug 05 2024
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
This sounded like “grown-up music when I was little” and reading the Wikipedia page for the singer didn’t help…
2
Aug 06 2024
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
Love Johnny Cash, great songs but giving this album a 3 because I can’t get my head round the different versions so I have no idea which one I was supposed to listen to.
3
Aug 07 2024
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The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
This would have been a 4 if I were new to ragas but in fact I wanted to learn more from the introduction or have expert guidance listening to a full peace. Possibly Spotify helpfully crossfaded the explanations…
3
Aug 08 2024
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Vespertine
Björk
I have been trying to like Björk for decades but she just sounds like the LP is randomly going at the wrong speed, and overall either soporific like this album or too discordant for my taste. This would probably be a 2.5 as there were one or two songs I might revisit later, but not my cup of tea.
2
Aug 09 2024
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Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
Having somehow never heard of the album or the band, I really enjoyed this but didn’t have a chance to listen all the way through due to attending the Glasgow 2024 WorldCon. From what I’ve heard it’s a 3.5 which could become a 4 on relistening so I’ve rounded up this time.
4
Aug 12 2024
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Good stuff—I’ve only ever really listened to hit singles and the brilliant Seeger Sessions, so was glad to explore earlier Springsteen.
4
Aug 13 2024
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The Wall
Pink Floyd
Part of my musical DNA but not as much as The Dark Side of the Moon or Woods You Were Here!
4
Aug 14 2024
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Happy Sad
Tim Buckley
I used to prefer his earlier Goodbye and Hello, but this one just may have overtaken it.
4
Aug 15 2024
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All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah
Really not my kind of music but one or two songs I could like. Between a 2 and a 3.
2
Aug 16 2024
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
My sister bought this on vinyl when it came out, great stuff.
4
Aug 17 2024
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Nevermind
Nirvana
I have never listened to this through. The first track is a classic but none of the rest really stood out.
3
Aug 18 2024
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High Violet
The National
I was only dimly aware of the band - very Radio Paradise.
4
Aug 19 2024
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Time Out Of Mind
Bob Dylan
I tried. I really tried. But Dylan still sounds like a human trying to sing like a badly played harmonica. I can appreciate the quality of the songs but give me cover versions please.
2
Aug 20 2024
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
Not sure why but despite Document including three of the R.E.M. songs I like most, I prefer this album. Both were between a 3 and 4 so I’m rounding up this time.
4
Aug 21 2024
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The Seldom Seen Kid
Elbow
I was only dimly aware of the band and would have said I’d never heard her, but it turns out that the singles on this album are are Radio Paradise regulars and I’ve favourited one of them. Another one between 3 and 4, marking it a four as something to come back to.
4
Aug 22 2024
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The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Genesis
This concept album is clearly the Genesis that people had in mind when calling them an influence on Fish era Marillion - I was only familiar with their earlier albums and with late Phil Collins era. Enjoyed the music but the concept was kind of naff.
3
Aug 23 2024
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Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
This concept album is clearly the Genesis that people had in mind when calling them an influence on Fish era Marillion - I was only familiar with their earlier albums and with late Phil Collins era. Enjoyed the music but the concept was kind of naff.
1
Aug 24 2024
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Tidal
Fiona Apple
I had discovered her later song A Mistake from a Battlestar Galactica fan video or something like that. This reminded me of a more chilled ‘90s Laura Nyro.
3
Aug 25 2024
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Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
This wasn’t available on Spotify so I listened to it in playlist form. Some bits are decent but the rest is just cacophony, and any inclination to knock it up to two stars is fatally countered by the memory of the pretentious ex who used to listen to it because it was recommended by Q magazine…
1
Aug 26 2024
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The Grand Tour
George Jones
I grew up listening to my mother’s country music records but this is the kind of country music neither of us likes…
2
Aug 27 2024
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Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
Classic Queen - unmistakable despite only including one song I already knew. I am sure there will be more.
3
Aug 28 2024
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
The quest to find hiphop I like continues. This one started promisingly enough but again the use of peculiar sound effects just didn’t work for me.
1
Aug 29 2024
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Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Overall this sounded better than previous albums in the same genre I’ve listened to for the project. I don’t mind the swearing, but the voicemail beeps, sex moans and other obnoxious neighbour sounds mean it’s another 1 for me.
1
Aug 30 2024
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Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Probably my favourite album by them containing favourite songs especially “Go Your Own Way”.
4
Aug 31 2024
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
I am wavering between a 3 and a 2, but enjoyed this less than most of the 3s so far. I like the 70s sound but found that the long tracks became a bit repetitive.
2
Sep 01 2024
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Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
Good stuff.
3
Sep 02 2024
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
TIL that Talking Heads were American. One of those bands I’ve always felt I ought to like more than I do.
3
Sep 03 2024
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Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Not my usual thing but I like jazz from time to time.
3
Sep 04 2024
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Calenture
The Triffids
Baffled that I have never heard of The Triffids, Calenture, or any of these tracks from 1987 when I was listening to a LOT of music. This is a 3.5, was leaning towards 4 but I didn't enjoy it as much the second time round so another 3 it is.
3
Sep 05 2024
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Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
Another one who was just a name to me until now—I liked this. Rounding up to 4.
4
Sep 06 2024
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Darklands
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Always liked the band from the odd singles, but I don’t think I’ve listened to an entire album. Really liked this and some of the content of the extended version was reminiscent of Nick Cave.
4
Sep 07 2024
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
Another band I’ve never heard of but one or two songs sound familiar. Very Radio Paradise background—between a 3 and a 4 but going with 3 this time.
3
Sep 08 2024
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Behaviour
Pet Shop Boys
Very Pet Shop Boys but I wasn’t familiar with any of the songs. This site really needs half points or I need to stop reserving 5 for albums I can’t stop listening too… this would be 3.5.
3
Sep 09 2024
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Remain In Light
Talking Heads
Apart from In a Lifetime and Road to Nowhere, only one of which is on this album, I guess I still don’t care for Talking Heads.
2
Sep 10 2024
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The White Album
Beatles
Not my favourite favourite Beatles album but still a classic.
4
Sep 11 2024
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Hms Fable
Shack
I didn’t know this band or album - another 3 or 4, rounding up because I really liked Captain’s Table and Streets of Kenny.
4
Sep 12 2024
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
None of the tracks stood out and one or two were a bit cacophonous for me taste (Hit the Plane Down) so it’s between a 2 and a 3 - I doubt I’d listen again.
2
Sep 13 2024
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One World
John Martyn
I thought I was going to like this more than I did. The only impression it left was someone playing musical chairs with styles and influences.
2
Sep 14 2024
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
Some absolute classics on here but I’d never listened to it all the way through, so giving this a 4 so that I’m likelier to come back it for repeat listening.
4
Sep 15 2024
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Tapestry
Carole King
Not a kind of music I listen to regularly (too much piano) but virtually every song a classic.
4
Sep 16 2024
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Maxinquaye
Tricky
This was a pleasant surprise - I quite liked the first couple of tracks, especially "Overcome", but less so the later tracks where the tempo picks up. Possibly trip hop is more to my taste than regular hip hop. Voted 2 but more a 2.5.
2
Sep 17 2024
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1984
Van Halen
A slight surprise to discover songs other than Jump. Good Eighties rock.
3
Sep 18 2024
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La Revancha Del Tango
Gotan Project
Had been wondering if this list was entirely Anglo (having forgotten about Ravi Shankar) when this turns up in Spanish by a French band. Unfortunately I found it really boring.
2
Sep 19 2024
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
I must have heard this artist on Radio Paradise as she sounded familiar. A bit piano heavy for my taste but I enjoyed it and will listen again - like a chilled Florence + The Machine.
4
Sep 20 2024
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Live At Leeds
The Who
Classic Who but generally prefer studio albums to live.
3
Sep 21 2024
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Urban Hymns
The Verve
For decades I haven’t remembered which songs were Verve, Pulp or Blur, or ever listened to albums by any of them, in spite of which this entire album felt familiar. Giving it a 4 in hopes of remembering which one I like (apart from Common People by one of the others, which is great).
4
Sep 22 2024
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
Pleasant to listen to some Rolling Stones others than the usual hits. Considered a 4 but honestly doubt I’d actively decide to listen to it.
3
Sep 23 2024
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Dog Man Star
Suede
Another of the one word bands of the ‘90s that I get mixed up, between a 3 and 4, rounding up to remind me to come back to it. Reminds me of a cross between The Verve and Muse.
4
Sep 24 2024
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Some really good songs (My Sweet Love) but after the first part they became a bit samey and the whole thing went on way too long.
3
Sep 25 2024
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
A favourite when I was in my 20s and listening to hippy era music rather than what everyone else was listening to…
4
Sep 26 2024
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The Score
Fugees
Still definitely not my genre but more listenable than most hip hop, albeit sounding a little like listening to two radio stations at the same time; at least it doesn’t sound like noisy neighbours as well.
2
Sep 27 2024
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
Not actively objectionable but boring. New Look or H&M changing room music.
2
Sep 28 2024
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
Classic big band jazz. I prefer the tracks without piano but leaning more to 4 stars than 3
4
Sep 29 2024
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Truth
Jeff Beck
Where has this been all my life? Why has Jeff Beck been just a name? It came out before I was born, contains covers of at least three songs I love, feels new and familiar at the same time because of the Rod Stewart vocals, the guitar is sensational, and has a Sixties/blues/verging on metal sound that ticks so many boxes.
5
Sep 30 2024
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Face to Face
The Kinks
Good classic stuff.
4
Oct 01 2024
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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Loud and boring.
2
Oct 02 2024
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The Healer
John Lee Hooker
I like the blues, this didn’t especially grab me.
3
Oct 03 2024
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Loud and boring.
2
Oct 04 2024
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Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Classical instruments in a different mode. Felt I should have enjoyed this more than I did but rounding it up to 3 because the name is great.
3
Oct 05 2024
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Arrival
ABBA
How do you even start rating music that’s been a soundtrack since childhood? A number of 5-star songs and it’s great music - would be a 5 if I could imagine myself feeling like listening to the album rather than individual songs.
4
Oct 06 2024
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White Ladder
David Gray
This one surprised me in a good way—the singles were familiar, even overfamiliar, but the album had a consistent sound and the other songs were pleasantly new to me rather than bland or tiresome. Definitely growing on me.
4
Oct 07 2024
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
I miss Garfunkel!
3
Oct 08 2024
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Aja
Steely Dan
Epitome of 1970s grown up party music.
3
Oct 09 2024
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Revolver
Beatles
This was always my favourite Beatles album along with Rubber Soul. Not a 5 currently because I listened to it too much at one point. (I should have given the White album a 3 really as it never was a favourite, but was being sentimental about the Beatles.)
4
Oct 10 2024
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Protection
Massive Attack
One or two interesting songs but generally this felt like background music and what they did to Light My Fire shouldn’t be allowed.
2
Oct 11 2024
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
I still don’t get on with hip hop but even I could tell this was an art form and without the annoying gimmicks. I’d say 2.5 but can’t quite bring myself to rate it 3…
2
Oct 12 2024
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
I was wondering when this would show up. I was expecting to rate it 4, but having not listened to it for about 25 years due to bad memories of the ex who introduced me to it, to my surprise I have ended up giving it full marks.
5
Oct 13 2024
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Drunk
Thundercat
More of a 2.5 than a 3 in that I probably wouldn’t ever decide to listen to it, but it’s such a successful ‘70s hommage that I’m rounding up.
3
Oct 14 2024
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
Some great songs.
4
Oct 15 2024
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
I was introduced to The Doors by a friend at 19 and this was always one of my favourite albums by them for the strong blues element. Some music I listened to a lot as a student are hard to go back to now (too close to old emotions) but not The Doors.
5
Oct 16 2024
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Picture Book
Simply Red
Simply Red have always bored me to tears, not actively objectionable so should probably have rated this 3, but I wanted to reflect the lifelong response.
2
Oct 17 2024
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Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
My husband's cousins :-) (huge family, I never met them) If I'd heard the first song on the radio I'd have wondered how there was a Smiths song I didn't know, but I liked the whole album.
4
Oct 18 2024
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Crazysexycool
TLC
One or two decent songs - Waterfall especially familiar - but overall like being on hold with a utility company... High 2 but still a 2.
2
Oct 19 2024
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
Anarchy in the UK :-)
3
Oct 20 2024
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Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
Strangely I’d never heard of this despite growing up with my mother’s late ‘60s/early ‘70s country LP collection. It sounded very generic country to me to the point of being a little tiresome. A low 3.
3
Oct 21 2024
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Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Still don't like hip hop.
1
Oct 22 2024
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Heroes
David Bowie
My first Bowie rating! Not my top rated among his albums apart from the classic title track and Sons of the Silent Age, the Berlin period has never been my favourite and the Low-style electronica of side 2 is a bit forgettable.
4
Oct 23 2024
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Earworm after earworm!
3
Oct 24 2024
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Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
The Byrds
Was looking forward to this until I read the Wikipedia entry and discovered it was going to be The Byrds sounding like Gram Parsons, whose album Grievous Angel I rated 3 the other day but should have rated 2. Now I have to rate this 3 because it was a little better than that (less twangy).
3
Oct 25 2024
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You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
Ok but not sensational, I liked the song by The Cure in the style of the Jesus and Mary Chain.
3
Oct 26 2024
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Doolittle
Pixies
Hadn’t listened to this in decades! I had thought I preferred Surfer Rosa, but I just listened to that too, and Doolittle is better—a more consistent sound and more memorable tunes.
4
Oct 27 2024
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War
U2
Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year’s Day are classics - a high 4 but not quite a 5 for the album.
4
Oct 28 2024
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I’ve Got a Tiger By the Tail
Buck Owens
Didn’t really do much for me—the songs I liked are irritably because of other versions I’ve heard and like better, e.g. Streets of Laredo.
2
Oct 29 2024
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3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Not my usual listening, but I enjoyed this. A high 3. Nicely funky in a Seventies way.
3
Oct 30 2024
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The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
Pleasant enough country.
3
Oct 31 2024
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Enjoyed this more than the only other album I’ve listened to from the band (can’t remember the title). Good classic rock.
3
Nov 01 2024
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Da Capo
Love
Much prefer Forever Changes. This album sounds more aggressive somehow.
3
Nov 02 2024
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Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Actually better than I expected but still a 1 - a high 1 possibly for the sound which feels more authentic than some of the later hip hop I’ve listened to for the project, but the lyrics are just too mysogynistic.
1
Nov 03 2024
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Completely new artist for me—really enjoyed this apart from a couple of tracks that seemed designed more for the pop charts. The artist’s voice reminds me a little of Suzanne Vega. Described as country but more contemporary sounding. Giving it a 4 so I’ll come back to it.
4
Nov 04 2024
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
My husband hated this so much I had to close the door, but I quite enjoyed it after the initial cacophony in the first track. Three stars because I’d rate it in my mind before reading his bio on Wikipedia and discovering the underage wife thing…
3
Nov 05 2024
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Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
The title track is 4 or 5 stars but the rest of the album didn’t quite live up to the promise - I mostly only like slower doom metal rather than the loud shouty kind. Between a 3 and a 4 but going with my first instinct.
4
Nov 06 2024
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Come Find Yourself
Fun Lovin' Criminals
This nearly made it to 3! Rap over a more rock background than the other albums proposed so far, and the James Bond cover was fun, but still not really something I’d ever feel in the mood for.
2
Nov 07 2024
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Infected
The The
I remember the name of the band but not one of these songs was familiar. Not offensive but bothering especially grabbed me either.
3
Nov 08 2024
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C'est Chic
CHIC
This is totally not my usual style of music, but it's also the soundtrack of childhood and parents' parties and grown-up disco. I had no idea all these songs were the same band! Pure nostalgia.
4
Nov 09 2024
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
I can appreciate the artistry of the rapping as a creative use of language, and the song with Aerosmith was a trip down memory lane, but I loathed this band at the time and still dislike the sound of the album intensely, and can’t bring myself to give more than one star to anything using those smeary sounds.
1
Nov 10 2024
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Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
The missing link between Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Not sure how I’d never heard of him before. I’d rather listen to Woody Guthrie…
3
Nov 11 2024
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Deloused in the Comatorium
The Mars Volta
I like prog rock and this sounded ok apart from occasional bursts of cacophony, but the concept behind the album is tiresome. I wouldn’t turn it off if someone put it on, but I wouldn’t spend the effort to concentrate on it as advised in the Wikipedia article. A high 2 or low 3.
2
Nov 12 2024
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Paranoid
Black Sabbath
I would definitely listen again, but didn’t enjoy this as much as Black Sabbath (the album).
3
Nov 13 2024
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
How could I give the album containing White Rabbit anything less than 4?
4
Nov 14 2024
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Eagles
Eagles
The sound of summer road trips.
4
Nov 15 2024
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I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
I had never heard of the album or the artist, and had to listen on YouTube because it wasn’t available to play on Spotify, but apart from the ads I really liked it. A sort of alternative folk sound.
4
Nov 16 2024
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
More classic childhood road trip radio.
4
Nov 17 2024
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Parallel Lines
Blondie
Heart of Glass, Sunday Girl, Hanging on the Telephone… I’d never listened to the album but at least half the songs are familiar!
4
Nov 18 2024
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Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Between a 3 and a 4, rounding up because I ran out of time to listen again but I think it would improve with repeat listening and be good music to write by.
4
Nov 19 2024
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
This album contains Hurt, the saddest song in the world, and also a duet with Nick Cave, one of my favourite artists. I would give it a 5 for the sake of Hurt alone, but if I listened to it more than twice a year I would probably dig my own grave...
4
Nov 20 2024
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Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
As usual I liked Elvis Costello less than I think I should, he just fades into the background. I don't think I noticed a single song but it was pleasant enough.
3
Nov 21 2024
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Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
This wasn't available as an album on Spotify or Youtube so I could only listen to about half the songs as a Spotify playlist made up of tracks on compilations. Very pleasant and chilled but can't rate it more than a 3 without hearing the whole thing.
3