Aug 28 2024
In It For The Money
Supergrass
Love the hell out of it (9.5) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Aug 29 2024
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
My 7th favorite Zepp album
(8.95) β
β
β
β
4
Aug 30 2024
Tapestry
Carole King
She has always been one of my favorite songwriters and this set is all you need to hear to see why. Just classic after classic. Warm and inviting... Solid 10 out of 10
β
β
β
β
β
5
Aug 31 2024
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
My absolute favorite Talking Heads album
10 β
β
β
β
β
5
Sep 01 2024
Kid A
Radiohead
Well, after giving two listens, I will have to say this might be the best one I've heard to date. It starts of with everything thing in its right place. I actually love that opening track... BUT THEN, the title track is the same ok that's interesting, but it also feels cold and metallic. Maybe that was the feeling they were going for, if it was kudos, but it's not a feeling I look for in music. After that there are four key tracks that sold me, "The National Anthem", "Optimistic", "Morning Bell", and "Motion Picture Soundtrack"... But there are two tracks that lost in that me completely in that Radiohead experimental haze, "Treefingers" and "Idioteque". The other two main tracks I do like enough, though I can't say they neither added or detracted from my overall opinion of the album.
(8.75) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 02 2024
Warehouse: Songs And Stories
HΓΌsker DΓΌ
Big correction... I rated the wrong record... Warehouse is more in a post punk mode or even proto pop punk and was more to my liking than New Day Rising
(7.15) β
β
β
Β½
3
Sep 03 2024
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Loved the mix of rock with native African melodies in top. I can really get into this.
(8.0)β
β
β
β
4
Sep 04 2024
The Predator
Ice Cube
This is really not up my alley, but I get it, and I get why it's looked up to. There are some songs I did like most noatably the opening track "When Will They Shoot" and "Check Yo Self". But for the most part thus taps into thoughts an emotions I'm not exactly comfortable with. I also think that in a way it's supposed to take me there.
I may not like listening to it, but I do respect it's place in musical discourse.
(5.75) β
β
Β½
3
Sep 05 2024
Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
8.3 β
β
β
β
Could have been higher if I liked his vocals better, but band wise I freakin loved it.
4
Sep 06 2024
Different Class
Pulp
Not a band I am particularly drawn to. This was no exception (6.5) β
β
β
3
Sep 07 2024
Garbage
Garbage
An album I loved in my college years. Holds up pretty well for me today... At least the first β
of it. The opening three songs really kick! Kind get a bit fillery at the end. But it closes nicely with "Milk" which has a nice James Bond theme sound, which would prove advantageous a few years later.
(8.8) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 08 2024
Dear Science
TV On The Radio
Like with most Millennial alt, I find it kind of interesting, yet just out of my total appreciation.
(7.25) β
β
β
Β½
3
Sep 09 2024
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
Though I do like this album quite a bit, I've never been sold on the GOAT reputation it has. That being said Sloop John B. is a magnificent song!
(7.75) β
β
β
Β½
4
Sep 10 2024
Hot Fuss
The Killers
8.4 β
β
β
β
The first six tracks are off the hook... Then only 1 of the last five. But overall quite an enjoyable listen
4
Sep 11 2024
Time (The Revelator)
Gillian Welch
Absolutely love this album
(9.5) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Sep 12 2024
Sunshine Superman
Donovan
I thought I'd like this one more... Strangely I think side 2 was the better side. Especially with both "Season of the Witch" and "Fat Angel" on that side.
(8.1) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 13 2024
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
Oooh! I listened to this last year for the first time... It was an instant fiver!
(10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Sep 14 2024
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
I actually like the grooves of this album but far too repetitive for it's hour long runtime. Probably could stand it more if I had some X on hand. But I still love "Praise You" like I did way back then, and really dug the surf music samples in "Soul Surfing". I also really enjoyed "Right Here. Right Now", but that was before I realized this repetitive groove thing takes up about 80% to 90% of the album.
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
[7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½ [7.6] β
β
β
Β½
3
Sep 15 2024
Beyond Skin
Nitin Sawhney
I really enjoyed the way this album started off, but as the album wore on I don't know if I was feeling disconnected with the changing styles or if it was just going to far in areas that for the most part don't interest me. It is beautifully produced and I can see why some people would get something out of this. But for me after "Broken Skin", "Letting Go", "Homelands" and "Tides" nothing else quite reached me. After the first five tracks, I was aiming for a strong four, but after the Journey of the subsequent seven tracks, I'm landing on a
(2.85) β
β
Β½
3
Sep 16 2024
Duck Stab/Buster & Glen
The Residents
Um... yeah.
(3.4) β
Β½
1
Sep 17 2024
At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
Fantastic live album!
(9.2) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Sep 18 2024
Hms Fable
Shack
Enjoyed the album, but as far as Beatlesque Brit pop goes, there were ones better and earlier than this. Not sure why this would be deemed essential.
(7.9) β
β
β
Β½
4
Sep 19 2024
Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
I really liked the album, though this kind of low fi slacker rock isn't always my thing, but most of this fit right onto my taste. Especially some of the solos kinda sporadically sprinkled through out the album.
(8.5) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 20 2024
Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
To me Janis carries the band, which to me the band gave me Jefferson Airplane vibes. In fact, I kinda feel like this album is a lesser Crown of Creation which was recorded and released about the same time. (both being Bay Area bands, there was probably some cross influence going on). The two songs where Sam Andrew takes the lead vocals are easily my least favorite songs of the set. Pretty much through the entire play... until "Ball and Chain" which is the crown jewel of this album. Not only is her vocals just on top of it, the dark distorted guitar work of Andrew absolutely kills. I think that one 9 min epic closing the album definitely lands this in 4 territory
(8.25) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 21 2024
Beauty And The Beat
The Go-Go's
Absolute classic from my middle school years! (9.25) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Sep 22 2024
Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor
Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor [2006]
Didn't like it all that much, seemed rather derivative to me. "Just Might Be OK" reminded me of BeyoncΓ©'s "Crazy In Love". "The Instrumental" reminded me of Linkin Park. For the most part he sounds like a protege of Jay-Z maybe with a little bit of Emenem's slower flow. I dug some of the music bed and samples, but to me this is pretty much down the line aughts hip hop to me. Again I'm not a rap guy so I ain't the person this album was aimed.
With out counting the 12min of shout outs. I should because it's actually part of the album, but I'm not. There is a reason most people walk out of the movies during the credits.
Im going with a (5.5) β
β
Β½
2
Sep 23 2024
Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
I prefer a couple of Pixies abums to this, Doolittle and Basanova for sure. On par maybe a bit better than Surfer Rosa. Still a great album overall
(8.6) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 24 2024
All Directions
The Temptations
I did like side one a heck of a list getter than side two. Still liked I "Ain't Got Nothing" and the Isaac Hayes cover "Do Your Thing" off side two as well.
(8.1) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 25 2024
Survivor
Destiny's Child
What I liked about the album...
"Survivor", "Emotion" (sorry, I'm a sucker for a well written Gibb/Gibb song), and "Dangerously In Love".
I kinda dig the a capella harmonies on "Gospel Medley", I just wish there was more emotion behind it. It doesn't breathe.
What I hated... Pretty much everything else.
(5.3) β
β
Β½
2
Sep 26 2024
The Nightfly
Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen - Nightflyer
The first two songs on each side have the makings of five star album. "I.G.Y.", "Green Flower Street", "New Frontier", and "The Nightflyer" all have the makings of the perfect follow up to "Aja" (better than *Goucho* at least)
The rest... are... I guess fine songs. "Maxine" is the best of the rest, but the Steely Dan-ing of a Drifters/Leiber&Stoller classic is comical at best.
This comes close to matching the magic of the classic six run of Dan, but not quite
(8.7) β
β
β
β
4
Sep 27 2024
For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
(7.75) β
β
β
Β½
4
Sep 28 2024
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
(7.6) β
β
β
Β½
3
Sep 29 2024
Either Or
Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith - Either/OR (9.7) ββββΒ½
4
Sep 30 2024
New Boots And Panties
Ian Dury
I liked the album, but I can't take it seriously one bit. It reminds me of something Eric Idol would come up with for Dirk McQuickly
(7.5) β
β
β
Β½
3
Oct 01 2024
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Side one I loved a light 4Β½, but the second half lost me... Except for the closer.. I loved that one.
I'm keeping the volume unit meter at 7.75 β
β
β
Β½
4
Oct 02 2024
Larks' Tongues In Aspic
King Crimson
9.5 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Oct 03 2024
Lost Souls
Doves
Very Coldplayish
(7.8) β
β
β
Β½
4
Oct 04 2024
Gold
Ryan Adams
Still a classic in my book
(9.9) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Oct 05 2024
Blur
Blur
Back in 2022, I gave this (7.5) β
β
β
Β½ on my 1997 dive.
After giving it a relisten, we'll, it is very front loaded. The first eight tracks I was like what was I thinking... 4Β½ easy. But from "Chinese Bombs" on it's a flat 3Β½. To make matters worse I truly disliked "Essex Dogs" (ending on a song I kinda hate is a good way to bomb a score)
But this time I'm going up to a light 4... It's easily the best Britpop album we've heard so far. It's not a carbon copy of other Britpop acts. It's got it's own swagger, and I like that about this album. Even if the back half falls off a bit.
Blur [1997]
(8.1) β
β
β
β
4
Oct 06 2024
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
(10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Oct 07 2024
The Man Who
Travis
Well my favorite song was the hidden track "Flashing Blue Lights" the only track on this that kinds rocked it out a bit... The rest just reminded me of that kind of mopy post-Brit pop kind of in the likes of Keane (which I hope I don't jynx us and summon them up in our randomizer)
It's fine, I kinda like it, but it's a light 3Β½.
(7.2) β
β
β
Β½
3
Oct 08 2024
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Absolute Stevie banger! (10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Oct 09 2024
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
6.8 β
β
β
It's fine well recorded, great players, but the music didn't strike me a anything out of the ordinary. Kinda by the book.
3
Oct 10 2024
Aja
Steely Dan
Straight up fiver
(10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Oct 11 2024
New Forms
Roni Size
Roni Size & Resprazent - New Forms (79 min)
Not as bad as I was expecting
(4.01) β
β
Roni Size & Resprazent - New Forms (full 140 min original release)
Oh God, kill me now!
(3.25) β
Β½
1
Oct 12 2024
Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Bowie Banger (9.95) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Oct 13 2024
Bluesbreakers
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
I actually really love what EC is doing on this album. And the song more centered around the guitar really burn. But quite often when the guitar was not the main focus, it feels like a lesser British pop band.
John Mayall with Eric Clapton - Blues Breakers (8.8) β
β
β
β
4
Oct 14 2024
Hotel California
Eagles
There are a few key track that keep this from being way up in my 4Β½ zone. But I also think overexposure and time has not been kind to this album. But it's still a good one
8.7 β
β
β
β
4
Oct 15 2024
The Wall
Pink Floyd
This is an all timer for me. And even in some of the moments that aren't my favorites the concept is so compelling that I can't help but admire it.
(9.9) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Oct 16 2024
Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
8.2 β
β
β
β
4
Oct 17 2024
Arrival
ABBA
I'm sorry but Abba does nothing for me as a whole. Thier music is so comically Eurovision down the line to me... Best song on the album for me was "Knowing Me Knowing You" the only other songs I actually liked were the bonus tracks (in fact I liked both of them better than "KMKY")
(5.7) β
β
Β½
2
Oct 18 2024
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
Fiver... Too easy
5
Oct 19 2024
Blue
Joni Mitchell
Magnificently beautiful album.
(10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Oct 20 2024
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
For some reason I've always held this album to a high regard but never really listen to it all that much at least not as much as *The Hurting*. And I think a lot of it has to do with the big singles definitely "Shout", my favorite, and "Head Over Heels"are just magnificent... and" Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is undeniably a perfect little pop song. But not much else draws my attention.... Side 2 itself, other than the aforementioned "Head Over Heels", seem to be more about sonic texture rather than song craft and it kinda lost me there.
High 3.5, but 4 on the app
(7.8) β
β
β
Β½
4
Oct 21 2024
Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
If there is one thing I found Magnificent about the Tom Waits album it is the fact that it sounds so natural that it is pretty much unlike anything I associate with 1985. I absolutely adore the sonics he was going for. As for the material I'm a little less sure where I want to go as far as rating it because I enjoy it but it's not something that I would want to pull out and listen regularly. But it is rather charming in its own right. I really kind of dig a lot in the early part of the album the kind of New Orleans feel. In some ways it kind of almost made me feel like I was listening to a musical production by Tim Burton. So I imagine Danny Elfman was very inspired by this album.
I must admit I did not know that he wrote "Downtown Train" which is never been one of my favorite Rod Stewart songs. I do much prefer Tom Waits mainly because Rod Stewart at the point where he recorded it was basically making everything sound like a bland pop song where Tom Waits almost gives like this springsteen-esque delivery that gave it some urgency.
All in all it's a real solid four for me though
(8.67) β
β
β
β
4
Oct 22 2024
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
My #3 all timer 10 β
β
β
β
β
5
Oct 23 2024
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
I'm going (4.8) β
β
The hit was the highlight and the closer.. The rest did nothing for me, in fact the slower songs were utter snooze-fests. Not my kind of Disco.
I don't find this album exemplary of disco... I'm not sure why its inclusion
2
Oct 24 2024
Moondance
Van Morrison
Easy (10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Oct 25 2024
The La's
The La's
(7.8) β
β
β
Β½
4
Oct 26 2024
The Stranger
Billy Joel
(10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Oct 27 2024
Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Talking Heads '77 [1977]
(9.6) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Oct 28 2024
Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
I quite enjoyed this album. But I have no kick against soft jazz... I've been known to dig on some Bob James, Grover Washington Jr., and yes even Chuck Mangione.
(8.1) β
β
β
β
4
Oct 29 2024
Frank
Amy Winehouse
(6.6) β
β
β
3
Oct 30 2024
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
I wanted to give it a 3 star for being so fucking long, but it's not a threefer... I could probably edit this down to a 75 min strong to high 3Β½ star... mostly cutting from disc 2. Disc one actually is not that bad as it is even with "Zero" still in play. Definitely woukd keep "1979", "Through The Eyes of Ruby" and the closer.
(7.1) β
β
β
Β½
3
Oct 31 2024
Chore of Enchantment
Giant Sand
I actually really enjoyed this one... Musically really kept me interested. The vocals were really not to my liking, but actually worked with the feel of the music but as the album. The latter half of the album is what really sold me on it as a whole "Dirty as The Rain" stuck me as a left of center Van Zandt tune. The solo on "No Reply" just soars, but my favorite song on the album is "Satellite". It's dirty groove really pulled me in from the start
I'm starting this off at an (8.15) β
β
β
β
with room to grow on me.
4
Nov 01 2024
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
It's fine. I thought from the opening two tracks I was really gonna like it. Not like crazy love, but dig it well enough. I did recognize "Kinky Afro" once it got to the "Yippy Yippy ya ya yay I had to crucify somebody today" I was like, oh that song.
After "God's Cop" it was pleasant enough to listen to maybe in the background but really not much to hang on to.
(6.8) β
β
β
3
Nov 02 2024
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park
Yeah, this Linkin Park album is closer to Limp Bizkit than *Meteora*. It's only saving grace is "Crawling" and the closer "Pushing Me Away" which are the closest thing to being three star songs. However, they're not. Most of this album is plain old fucking horrible. By all means, *Hybrid Theory* is worse than *Meteora*
(3.8) β
Β½
2
Nov 03 2024
Street Life
The Crusaders
I have a slight heart for soft jazz. I don't think any smooth jazz, quiet storm, whatever what you want to call it, ever gets above a four rating, because it never pushed any boundaries, but it's a nice enjoyable sound for me. This is definitely not one my favorites (or my favorites of the genre), but it works for what it is.
(7.3) β
β
β
Β½
I don't feel this particular album is essential. If I were to replace this with another soft jazz album it would be Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good.
3
Nov 04 2024
Isn't Anything
My Bloody Valentine
I get it's influence, but nothing about this album was appealing. Usually that would slide me in a 2Β½β
direction but I really disliked the over all sound I couldn't give it any higher than a two.
(4.3) β
β
2
Nov 05 2024
Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
I heard this for the first time a couple years ago whefn I did a complete album dive on Siouxsie and The Banshees, it was and probably still is my favorite album of theirs. It's dark yet melodic and it set the tone for 80s goth... Love it!
(8.9) β
β
β
β
4
Nov 06 2024
Truth And Soul
Fishbone
I used to go see a band simmilar to this in Memphis in the early 90s called Freeworld. They were a lot of fun to see live. But their studio albums felt sterile and left much to be desired. I kinda feel Fishbone would be the same for me. But unlike Freeworld were it brings out incredible memories of the old 616... I just feel the sterility.
(5.3) β
β
Β½
2
Nov 07 2024
Back to Mystery City
Hanoi Rocks
4.33 β
β
β
β
4
Nov 08 2024
At Budokan
Cheap Trick
4.5 β
β
β
β
4
Nov 09 2024
Pink Moon
Nick Drake
9.6 β
β
β
β
Β½
Just an incredible gorgeous album
4
Nov 10 2024
Pornography
The Cure
I wanted to like this so much.. Especially since it really kinda feels like a sibling album to what Siouxsie & The Banshees were doing at the time. Although there are striking elements I can point out as sounding cool (especially the guitar work), there's an overall drone to the album that didn't really doo much for me. Also Roberts perpetually whining singing which has always been a problem for me, I think work with the droning, but is not something I really care to listen to.
(6.7) β
β
β
3
Nov 11 2024
#1 Record
Big Star
9.33 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Nov 12 2024
MTV Unplugged In New York
Nirvana
(9.8) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Nov 13 2024
Fromohio
fIREHOSE
I really dig the college rock groove on most of the track, and over all a great listen. My only real gripe is the lack of cohesiveness amongst some of the tracks that just seem way out of place. But it always seems like right after that song it would pop back into what I really enjoy about the album. I will give it a light but solid four.
(8.3) β
β
β
β
4
Nov 14 2024
Daydream Nation
Sonic Youth
First thing, I can't believe this was 1988, because it sounds so 90s alt and definitely not trapped in 80s reverb production from hell.
Music like this can really go either way with me, but very rarely does it affect me like this does.
I freaking love it. I feel like the more chaotic parts of the album add to the palate of these well crafted songs. It makes them blister, while still being accessible to my tastes. Not quite a fiver, but pretty damn near.
(9.75) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Nov 15 2024
The Rise & Fall
Madness
Other than the ubiquitous hit, "Our House", the closing the closing track, "Madness (Is All In The Mind)" , and to a lesser extent "Tiptoes", (all of which are on side 2) this album is a total slog. The fact is that side one was actually a chore to sit through. I'm keeping this in the two star range.
(4.7) β
β
2
Nov 16 2024
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Parts of thus album are just f'n great but about half of it is jusr merely good and solid... I'll split the difference and go
(8.2) β
β
β
β
4
Nov 17 2024
In The Wee Small Hours
Frank Sinatra
The first time I heard it I was in Active Training for the reserves and I had checked out a library CD copy to listen to on down time (along with a hand full of other titles) but it was right before lights out and I just relaxing in my bunk listening to this on headphones and it spoke to me deep. I felt every ache and heartbreak on the tracks. His voice so warm and emotional. It was like listening to a buddy pour his heart out. It was an instant favorite of mine since. This may not be an all purpose banger, but, man, in the right senerio, you can truly understand this album and this album understands you.
(10)β
β
β
β
β
5
Nov 18 2024
Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
I'm actually going to go high 4 on this the... every time I think about this album I mainly think of the originals which are off the hook good and them alone are a very high 4Β½. The covers are a mixed bag for me. The two that I've never heard the originals, The Wailers' "Dirty Robbers" and Richard Berry's "Have Love Will Travel", I freakin loved, but I have nothing else to skew my position. I do really dig their cover of Barrett Strong's "Money" and Nappy Brown's "Night Time is The Right Time", but there are more definitive versions of those songs. The rest of the covers I think work really well in context of the album, but on their own I probably would not seek them out. Overall this is still a very fun listen just a bit shy of a 4Β½...but one I will always love to play and play LOUD!
(8.8) β
β
β
β
4
Nov 19 2024
The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
(10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Nov 20 2024
A Grand Don't Come For Free
The Streets
I can't stand his flow, if that's even a flow. It sounds more like talking around a beat than rapping on it. The tracks come off a cheesy, obnoxious and sometime downright annoying. And most of the singing just grated on my nerves.
There are a lot of stuff I don't like that I can see the appeal. I had a hard time with this one. Even the two songs I can almost get, "Fit but You Know It" and "Dry Your Eyes", there still enough that annoys me to truly appreciate them. The rest of the album, I don't get the appeal at all.
(2.8) β
1
Nov 21 2024
Trafalgar
Bee Gees
I really love the arrangements on this album. But quite honestly not their strongest batch of songs. "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart", "Isreal" and "Don't Want to Live Inside Myself" are the stand out tracks. The final two cuts "Lion in Winter" and "Walking Back to. Waterloo" I loved the progression of the song much more than I did the songs themselves.
But then there's songs like "Dearest" (definate slog) and quite frankly most of the first side that are kinda slogs. They have much better albums than this... Especially in their 60s run, and *Main Course* of course.
(7.33) β
β
β
Β½
3
Nov 22 2024
Peggy Suicide
Julian Cope
Ok... Julian Cope... I like this album a hell of a lot better than I thought I was going to. Especially after reading the comments left here yesterday. This album does really have a bad case of doublealbumitis. But unlike most bloated I know exactly what I cut and that would be exactly where the first album ends, "Drive She Said" ends side 2. The first half was looking like a light 4Β½ star album for me. I love the instrumentions and some of the elongated vamps that would let the guitar take over. I was actually wondering what you all were talking about. The second half is a big old mixed bag. Though I didn't dislike anything on it, and there are a handful of tracks on that I really enjoyed as well. I just didn't feel invested in the second half as much as I did the first, definitely in the 3Β½ star range. I think overall it feels like a very light four for the whole album. But I really did love that first half of the album.
(8.1) β
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4
Nov 23 2024
Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
I think I dig *Seventeen Seconds* a bit more than *Pornography* ||I know there's 17 sec watching pornography joke to be told but I won't do it here||. Mainly because I really dig post punk and its angular guitars.
That being said this does have the Cure drone that I'm not a big fan of, but doesn't bother me here as much as it did in "Pornography". Some there are several tracks I seriously enjoyed "A Forest", "At Night", "Play For Today" and the title track would make a killer Ep.
But the more goth atmospheric tracks just left me a bit cold and I didn't care for them.
(7.1) β
β
β
Β½
3
Nov 24 2024
The Visitors
ABBA
Gawd! This album is awful!
I just got to "Two For The Price of One" and it has to be the absolute worst Abba song I've ever heard!
(4.6) β
β
And that's my final offer
2
Nov 25 2024
Heroes to Zeros
The Beta Band
A couple songs I really liked... Strangely enough it was the two singles (atw). The first half of the album I kinda liked, second half was ok. Over all. It's an album. It has music. Some actually work... But I think I'd ve better off throwing those single on a playlist and forgoing the rest.
(6.7) β
β
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3
Nov 26 2024
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
10 β
β
β
β
β
5
Nov 27 2024
Ritual De Lo Habitual
Jane's Addiction
The first half of *Ritual Lo Habitual* is good... If the second half followed suit, probably a moderate to sting 3Β½.
But the second side is Sofa King good! I gonna slide this as an ultra high four
(8.85) β
β
β
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4
Nov 28 2024
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
Honestly a really strong album for a genre that's hard for me to get into. But I do really like the flow of the raps and the all around beat and prodution. That horn/siren/whatever sound that they used though grates on my nerves to the nth degree. Another thing that I dint think affects my score but I didn't like was the live hype bits which to me didn't flow with the studio tracks.. I think if they were craftfully edited in instead of fade in and out it would have felt more like they were part of the album.
But as I said I think the rest of the album was strong enough to ignore them as a whole.
(8.2) β
β
β
β
4
Nov 29 2024
If You're Feeling Sinister
Belle & Sebastian
(8.2) β
β
β
β
4
Nov 30 2024
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Well... every time I listen to Elvis Costello, his material always feels like something I should really get into, I just don't all that much. That being said this is actually one I enjoyed pretty well. It's just shy of a 4 for me, but it will get a 4 on the app.
Some of my favorites were "Blame It On Cain", "I'm Not Angry", and although it technically doesn't count, "Watching The Detectives"
(7.75) β
β
β
Β½
4
Dec 01 2024
The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
I was not expecting to like this one. I'm not usually drawn to industrial sounds, but this melds it with acoustic and distinct melodies. Thematically this album is definitely one for a mood, and considering the day I had at work today, I needed this mood. It's quite cathartic
(8.3) β
β
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4
Dec 02 2024
Heaven Or Las Vegas
Cocteau Twins
I'm not sure if dream pop is my thing. Thus album is not bad but the heavy effects coupled with the heavy reverb is just not a sound I really like. It sounds just glassy and gimmery, and to me at least makes me lose any emotion behind it. And it's not that it's not there, it just feels like it's down a cathedral hall. It's not close or immediate.
All in all I didn't hate the album and although there are no tracks that stood out to me, there are aspects of it I truly enjoy.
(7.3) β
β
β
Β½
3
Dec 03 2024
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
(8.6) β
β
β
β
4
Dec 04 2024
Are You Experienced
Jimi Hendrix
Welp. I listened to the UK version and I was going to A/B it to the US version I have... But no need... The UK is a five star banger anyway and no real need to campare fivers.
I probably slightly prefer the US, maybe because it has more of the well known material or that I'm just used to that version. But quite frankly, my least favorite track on the set is on both versions "Love or Confusion" and it's not a dog by any means anyway.
Not my topper most, but way up there
(10) β
β
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5
Dec 05 2024
Trio
Dolly Parton
*Trio* is such a beautiful album. At times too beautiful for it's own good. I coukd hear some of this being performed before a quiet respectful audience, clapping respectfully between songs for a DVD that will be sold on PBS on pledge week.
But they are all solid performances and there is a trio of songs right in the middle where it feels more natural "Wallflowers", "Telling Me Lies", and "My Dear Companion".
(8.95) β
β
β
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4
Dec 06 2024
Hypnotised
The Undertones
I kinda wanted to like this better, it's a lot of fun, I'd lands as kind link between Glam and Glam metal... Glam punk if you will. But it still didn't 100 bowl me over.
7.8 β
β
β
Β½
4
Dec 07 2024
Imagine
John Lennon
5
Dec 08 2024
Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck - Djam Leelii
This was the one I was scared of the most when I went on on this, but I absolutely loved this album. Yes it's way out of the way of music I listen to, but it's was an awesome discovery for me.
(8.33) β
β
β
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4
Dec 09 2024
Foxbase Alpha
Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne - Foxbase Alpha.. Music like this can go either way with me.. But in small doses, absolutely love this kind of stuff. Across a full album it wears on me a bit... I did omit the two tracks added for the US version so it was a bit shorter than it's hour run time
I'm going with (7.3) β
β
β
Β½
3
Dec 10 2024
Figure 8
Elliott Smith
9.8 β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Dec 11 2024
Beautiful Freak
Eels
I almost went with. High 4 mainly because the last half was not as strong as the first.. But I think all I all it deserves a light 4Β½
9.2 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Dec 12 2024
Brothers In Arms
Dire Straits
8.4 β
β
β
β
4
Dec 13 2024
Kimono My House
Sparks
7.4 β
β
β
Β½
3
Dec 14 2024
Graceland
Paul Simon
I'm glad I revisited this album.. Though I've always rated it as a four, I think this list ends I really got into the textures of the albums. Still not quite the all out fiver of it's reputation for me but getting closer
(9.5)
4
Dec 15 2024
The Modern Dance
Pere Ubu
There are aspects of this album I really dug. The post punk vibe of the rhythm section mainly. But between the singer, which I disliked his delivery throughout the album, andthe overwhelming artsy tinkering which quite frankly either didn't move me or in the case of the Musique Conrete "Sentimental Journey" just down right hated. This just isn't anything I'd ever return to and quite frankly felt like a waste of my time.
(3.85) β
Β½
2
Dec 16 2024
Synchronicity
The Police
This is one I've loved since early High School. If there was a weak spot in the album it would be the Lp closer "Tea of Sahara" which is kinda a look forward to Stings solo career, which I like, but never near enough as The Police together.
But man other than that even the "weird" tracks (Mother, and Miss Gradenko) I think really work in context.
10 β
β
β
β
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5
Dec 17 2024
Violator
Depeche Mode
It was a five for me back when it came out and still a fantastic listen for me today.
(10)
5
Dec 18 2024
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
I'm giving a real low score to Slim Shady. Lyrically I can't stand the album, not because they are poor or sloppy, but the tone and the subject matter just fills me with hate. I don't enjoy glorification of domestic abuse. I don't enjoy the way he puts his children in the middle of it (lyrically). I know these acts of violence and atrocities happen every day. I personally don't like it in my entertainment. I don't need to be reminded how absolutely fucked up this world is. I have witnessed it myself..
Honestly... The only good thing I want to say about this album is that I think that the utter hate and anger I feel is what he wants the listener to feel. In that he's done his job. But all in all, I hate feeling this much hate in my system.
I honestly wish I hadn't heard this album.
(3.5) β
Β½
1
Dec 19 2024
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
10 β
β
β
β
β
5
Dec 20 2024
Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
I really enjoyed this not upper tier but a sold gothic post punk entry
(8.5) β
β
β
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4
Dec 21 2024
On The Beach
Neil Young
This is one I didn't think would be in the book, mainly because it's not as talked about as much as say Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Harvest, After The Gold Rush or Rust Never Sleeps.
But it's solid album for sure if not in his upper echelon.
(8.9) β
β
β
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4
Dec 22 2024
Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
Other than "Who You Funkin' With?", which I really liked, this album didn't really much for me. I do see the influence this collection of single meant to rap a a genre though, it just wasn't anything I'm interested in. But didn't dislike it so.. Light 3
(6.3) β
β
β
3
Dec 23 2024
Nixon
Lambchop
I can't call this bad, but I can call it boring af... In fact it bored the fuck out of me.. I won't be able to have sex for an entire week because of this album
(5.75) π΄π΄Β½
3
Dec 24 2024
Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
The second record is where thus really cooks, though the opening track of the album is also a grand highlight
(8.55) β
β
β
β
4
Dec 25 2024
Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi
I guess I like Bon Jovi more than I thought.
(5.3) β
β
Β½
2
Dec 26 2024
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
Im staying the same... What keep this set so compelling is Darline Love's four songs which are the best on the album. (this was the reason Love was the Queen of Christmas before Mariah Carey stole her crown). Also the three Ronnettes songs are bangin'. The Crystals were the least compelling of the three girls groups, but really didnt do much to hurt the album as a whole... It would be an easy mid to light 4Β½ if it wasn't for the two Bob B. Sox songs, which are like his stage name, bland and bad. The spoken word Outro didn't do much to help the album. I'd sooner leave it off, but at least it short and doesn't go on infinitum like other credit tracks I've heard.
Given that Darline, Ronnie, and the Crystal take up over 75% of the album I think it still warrents an (8.75) β
β
β
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4
Dec 27 2024
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
I really kinda like this album quite a bit. There is a lot of this album that sounds inspired by that transition 70/80s rock i get vibes of Straits, Floyd, Petty, Springsteen influence with a glimmer of Millennial sheen. One thing this album does well which can be a land mind for be is extendeding an ending a few minutes after the song is done. In the right hands if find it enjoyable and I think they hit that sweet spot.
(8.4) β
β
β
β
4
Dec 28 2024
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
9.7 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Dec 29 2024
Hunky Dory
David Bowie
9.5 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Dec 30 2024
Take Me Apart
Kelela
There is so much I want to like about this album.
First of all I love her voice. There's an aching passion that draws me note for note though out the album. I think that's what keeps me wanting to appreciate this more. It is a bit out of my usual wheelhouse, but done female Neo-soul act hace garnered my attention as of late. Though out this album there are some great production sonics that I really dig. But I think it comes down to the songs themselves don't make any of this feel like something I'd like to revisit over and over again. I'm going to give this a really light 3Β½, just because there is something there that really attracts me, but not fully fleshed out.
(7.00) β
β
β
Β½
3
Dec 31 2024
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar
The first time I hea heard this record it was back when it was up for album of the year. And the first half of it was really hard for me to take but as the story grew along I really became invested in the album a lot more than I am most rap albums.
8.5 β
β
β
β
4
Jan 01 2025
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
This is the kind of music that I kind of like but for the most part if I never heard it again it wouldn't phase me.
6.8 β
β
β
3
Jan 02 2025
Like Water For Chocolate
Common
I really did not like this album much at all. And there are aspects of it I really dug especially in the tracks. But for the most part, I don't like this kind hip hop/rap. I can't even really put a finger on why, I just don't. I do kinda feel like this is an important album thematically and musically, but even somehow recognizing that did not equate to appreciation. Two songs I did like... "The 6th Sense" and "A Song for Assata" they did struck a chord in me. The most of the rest honestly made me feel in comfortable.
If I was more into this gernre as a whole, I could see myself rating this highly, but I really was soaked in a negative reaction to this.
(4.85) β
β
2
Jan 03 2025
Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby
Terence Trent D'Arby
It's OK. I remembered the critical hype when this album came out.. Never matched the public disinterest as a whole.. Me too... 6.3, β
β
β
3
Jan 04 2025
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Easy 10
5
Jan 05 2025
Legalize It
Peter Tosh
I don't know what to say except that reggae bores me. This was no exception. To me reggae is ska if you took out the tempo, the horns and the exuberance. It just feels like music made by and for stoners. May be it's just too laid back for me, but everytime I hear that reggae beat and guitar pattern, it just bores me to tears.
I'll take a cocaine driven music instead.
(5.3) β
β
Β½
2
Jan 06 2025
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
8.5 β
β
β
β
4
Jan 07 2025
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
The strength of this album truly lies if four absolutely phenomenal songs "You Are Sunshine of My Life", "Maybe Your Baby", "Superstition", and "I Believe". Those three keep this in the 4Β½ star realm. The rest for the most part are great tracks, but don't really jump off the turntable like the four I mentioned.
(9.1)
4
Jan 08 2025
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
Sinead O'Connor
Enjoyed this pretty well. It was actually a good listen for a bitter winter day.. It almost has a winter song feel to it. Bleek and cold while wanting to be warm. Some of the songs the just felt at odds with the rest of the album (the ones with more production to them) but overall this was a good listen.
(8.2) β
β
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4
Jan 09 2025
Sheer Heart Attack
Queen
The first two albums are really Queen finding their sound. This to me is where Queen truly became Queen. The 100% fun tracks, to dead serious, to quick change genres, all the theatrics that is Queen is in full force on this album. They would perfect it in the next. But to me this is where Queen truly begins.
(9.4) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Jan 10 2025
Never Mind The Bollocks, Hereβs The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
I think I enjoy the legend of the band more than the band itself. I had a copy of this as a teen in the early 80s. Pretty much a must have album if you were an 80s hard rock/metal fan. They were the band our bands looked up to. And I can see why. Loud, abrasive, yet strangely melodic. As I grew older I grew out of it. (I don't think I played it often anyway)
Still, this is fine album, a lot of fun when your pissed at the world and need to let it out. And in the right mood this could be the album of the moment... Listening today it's a bit clichΓ© and played out, but still a fun listen.
(8.4) β
β
β
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4
Jan 11 2025
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
This is basically what I consider 60s coffeehouse jazz. It's nice, but overwhelmingly safe. I kinda needed this kind of mellow buzz this morning, it's good.
But that 60s jazz somba sound just reminds me of movie and TV tropes to kinda code to the hip beatnik crowd. It's fine, but not something I'm particularly drawn to. I don't know if it's the rhythm or the genre, because I kinda dig it when Santana employs similar rhythms or vibes, but in the context of 60s jazz it just strike me as there.. OK... Good, but not moving.
(7.3) β
β
β
Β½
3
Jan 12 2025
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
9.95 β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Jan 13 2025
Go Girl Crazy
The Dictators
Starting with what I liked, some of the guitar work on this is pretty damn good. I had two big issues with the album one the lead singer seems to be leaning into this bawdy juvenile character and it feels more like a caricature rather than something I can believe. My second is personally I think the songs are shit. I dig good rockin glam based rock, but this felt like third rate Brownsville Station. As far as them being the first punk album. I don't buy it. It contains nothing of the visceral anger of bands like say the Clash or even the Sex Pistols. In fact it feels more like the songs and vocals are playing to the mic.
If I heard this when I was 12, I might find this clever and funny, but as a 55 year old coot, it just seemed silly
(5.3) β
β
Β½
2
Jan 14 2025
The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
There is one thing about the Kinks which is both one of the things I find most endearing about them but simultaneously puts me at arm's length and that is they are probably the most British sounding band of the major rock bands of the '60s. Where as the Beatles pretty well blended the cultures and the Stone went out to prove they were the best American band from Britain, the Kinks always seem to double down on their Brittishness. Pretty much always to a very charming results. But as an American, I do feel the cultural differences.
Still this was a very fun and engaging listen.
I actually listened to it three times today what I love really loved, but there was just way to much that just wasn't up to that level. Especially on the second half which probably affected the overall final feel.
4
Jan 15 2025
Strangeways, Here We Come
The Smiths
The Smiths - "Strangeways, Here We Come" [1987]
I'm sorry I just don't get the absolute love for this band. Mainly due to Morresey's vocals which to me is not much more than a whiny drone. Musically I can get into them but his vocal delivery almost always kills it for me.
I think this album starts off pretty well with the first three song "Death of a Disco Dancer" being my favorite with the band build up towards the end. After that its just the same old Smiths that I don't think is bad, I just hear nothing compelling in it. "Unhappy Birthday", though I kinda like the lyrics, the delivery made my eyes roll. And "Paint a Vulgar Picture" it just sounds like he starts singing winding and wavering in wind. I went cross-eyed listening to it. "Death at Ones Elbow" is a great late entry, but overall not enough to pull it out of the overall blah that is The Smiths.
(6.7) β
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3
Jan 16 2025
L.A. Woman
The Doors
Not quite as epic as their first two to me, but man, "The Changeling", "Love Her Madly", "L.A. Woman", "L'America", "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)", and of course "Riders On The Storm"... this album is Sofa King good!
(9.9) β
β
β
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Β½
5
Jan 17 2025
Fragile
Yes
This is one I keep wanting to think as one of my fivers... And if I just take the four major pieces "Roundabout", "Southside of the Sky", Long Distance Runaround", and "Heart of the Sunrise" as far as I'm concerned it is. Which leaves the five individual highlights. Squire's "The Fish" is basically an extension of "Runaround" and Howe's acoustic guitar interlude actually fits the flow of the album as a brief light breather between key tracks. Anderson's vocal exercise would have be better single bridge between "Roundabout" and "South Side" but unfortunately Wakeman's "Cans and Brahms" honestly felt out of place, as did Bruford's "Five Percent" (Though "5%" was closer to the feel of the album. "Brahms" felt out of place all over).
(9.45) β
β
β
Β½
4
Jan 18 2025
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Near perfect album (9.9) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Jan 19 2025
Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
As much as Bookends has many of their best works: Bookends Theme, America, Fakin' It, Mrs Robinson, Hazy Shade of Winter, there is large section of side one: Overs/Voices of Old People/Old Friends, that really keeps it from being a perfect five. My least favorite of the ones in the book, and hands down better than the two that didn't make it. (9.4) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Jan 20 2025
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo
Devo
I really wanted to like this album mainly because this is the kind of post punk/new wave I really get into. My main hangup is the quirky vocal delivery which worked for me on some track... Not so much on others. My stand out tracks were "Mongoloid", "Gut Feeling", and "Come Back Jonee" (probably the least quirky of the bunch) but also found but parts of "Uncontrollable Urge", "Space Junk", and "Too Much Paranoias" tasty as well.
This may be an album I have to warm up to, but I gave it two listens today mainly because it seems I should like this more than it's hitting me.
(7.75) β
β
β
Β½ (four in the app)
4
Jan 21 2025
Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Still a magnificent album after almost 70 years. Yes it's very of the time, but also quite forward for 1957. But what really cooks is the set of songs on here, "Oh, Boy!", "Not Fade Away", "Maybe Baby", "Tell Me How", and "That'll Be The Day" still simmer and shine in a 50s rock and roll vibe. Though I've only had this particular album a few years, I've had The Buddy Holly Collection compilation all my life starting with my dad's cassette copy. His music is timeless to me, an something I never get tired of.
As far as this album side one absolutely cooks for me, but after "That'll Be The Day" it does seems to trail off. Holly didn't write any of the final four songs. (though "Empty Cup" was written by Roy Orbison, as well as "You've Got Love" on side one)
9.5 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Jan 22 2025
New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Great bridge album between Glam and punk. This was recorded the same month that Aladin Sane Dropped and seem very much of the same ilk on the first side, while the second side gets more hard and chaotic. Beingba fan of glam I really enjoyed the first half over the second, but was a sold fun listen through out
(8.27) β
β
β
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4
Jan 23 2025
SΓ£o Paulo Confessions
Suba
Somewhere between pop jazz and electronica lie whatever this is... I have no use for it
(4.2) β
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2
Jan 24 2025
Shleep
Robert Wyatt
If it is possible to be both intrigued and bored by an album Robert Wyatt found a way to do it. Honestly, other than the singing, I liked musical textures of this album quite good. Some maybe a bit to out there for me. I don't know if it's exactly his voice that puts me off or his vocal choices which at times feel at odds with the music, but I do believe that's by design. "Blues in Bob Minor" is the stand out tracks, bumping this up to the 3Β½ territory, with a bit more rocking vibe and a great "Subterranean" delivery. The opening track, "Heaps of Sheep" also caught my attention, in fact it gave me much false hopes for this album. "The Dutchess" also caught my attention for the exact opposite reason and made me wary of the rest of the album. All in all not a bad listen. In a weird way I want to check out some of his other work as well as his Soft Machine albums, because I feel there is more to him than just this, and this may not be the right album it introduce me to him.
(7.15) β
β
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Β½ (three on the app)
3
Jan 25 2025
Ramones
Ramones
Seriously fun album!
(10) β
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5
Jan 26 2025
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Ok... I think I like the musical interludes over most of the actual songs on here. In fact all, other than "Sabotage". They speak more to my personal musical senses. "Sambrosa" with its War like funk feel. The pseudo-psych of "Transition", the meditative jam of "Shambala" or just the straight up dirty groove of "Futterman's Rule" they all stood out to me. The rapping did not do much for me especially with the overly distorted or fuzzed out effects to the point I couldn't make out what they were saying. The couple of 80s punk style songs on here of course I didn't care for. My dislike for 80 hardcore is pretty well known here.
There are still some songs I like The opener "Sure Shot" hit me better on second listen, "The Scoop", and of course the monster hit. "Root Down" I loved the jazz influenced tracks, but the rap over just ruined it for me. Honestly there is a lot going on in many of these tracks that if it wasn't for the rap I'd like it. Those may be growers of ever want to invest time getting to know this album.
But then there the handful I coukd go without ever hearing again, "B-Boys Makin With The Freek Freek" and "Get It Together.
Too much I didn't like on this to give it high marks although there is also quite a bit I dig.
(6.75) β
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3
Jan 27 2025
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
Long running fiver for me
10 β
β
β
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5
Jan 28 2025
Back To Black
Amy Winehouse
Such an incredible retro sound absolutely loved it. It was a bit top heavy... Everything up to and including the title track are just banger after banger. The bottom half still sizzles tought
(8.65) β
β
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4
Jan 29 2025
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
This album was so nice I listened to it twice... I actually really loved this! A high enough 4Β½ to be 5 on the app. 50s/60s world folk is kinda an untapped corner of my musical taste. My parents were very much into some of the more commercial side of 50s/60s folk. Some of the artists they'd listen would incorporate African and world folk styles music. I'm my college years I kinda poked around, but I've never really done a dive in to that rabbit hole, but I know it's there.
(9.77) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Jan 30 2025
Bubble And Scrape
Sebadoh
Slowcore may not be Sharkcore.... But it is at least Sharkadjacent.
(8.35) β
β
β
β
4
Jan 31 2025
Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
Very John Hughes-core... I dug it
(8.0) β
β
β
β
4
Feb 01 2025
Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Starts off fine.. But after "Punk" it just one funky jam of nothingness after another. Sounds like they were having fun though.
(5.6) β
β
Β½
2
Feb 02 2025
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
10 β
β
β
β
β
5
Feb 03 2025
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
Really surprised how much I liked this album. Not a huge rap fan at all. But the kinda laid back hippy groove really got me in my sweet spot
(8.4)
4
Feb 04 2025
Bat Out Of Hell
Meat Loaf
1001 Album of the Day (03Feb2025):
Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell [1977]
I am an utter fanboy of Jim Steinman, and this was my introduction into his wild theatrical world. Though he'd use many other artist display his psychotic genius, none ever did it quite the way of the madcap duo of Steinman and Meat Loaf. Rest in peace the both of you
9.35 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 05 2025
Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
I heard this album first in the mid 90s when some one tried to get me into PJ Harvey and I hated it. But over the years I've heard some PJ material o really enjoyed, so I wasn't sure how it would take this. We'll, most of it I still dislike quite a bit. Considering that this was produced by Albani, I see a lot of similarities and another album he produced that year which was In Utero . Both albums have this sort of madness, chaotic sound that just doesn't work for me. It feels more like an orchestrated raw. Like pushing the limits just because you can, not necessarily because it sounds good. I still don't get this album as a whole, but there are tracks that I liked on it... most notably "Me-Jane" and "Ecstasy" towards the end of the album. But most of it was just an orchestrated mess as far as I'm concerned
(5.75) β
β
Β½
3
Feb 06 2025
Feast of Wire
Calexico
I really enjoyed this album. Probably some influence from my maternal Hispanic heritage, but rock music with a Mexi drive to it reall huts my sweet spot
(9.15) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 07 2025
Sex Packets
Digital Underground
Other than the obvious "Humpty" hit and "Doowutchyalike", this is just tongue in cheek mid level rap. Nothing to write home about. I do like some of the incorporations of jazz through out, but it's not enough to recomend this or even really want to revisit the album. Not even sure why this is essential. There are several rap album I don't like but say, yeah, that's important... This, nah.
(5.4) β
β
Β½
2
Feb 08 2025
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Though this may not be my preferred jazz, it definitely falls in my chill Jazz category. Honestly some exceptional playing on this album.
(8.5/10) β
β
β
β
4
Feb 09 2025
Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
Com'on... All timer from college!
(9.5) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 10 2025
American Pie
Don McLean
Honestly one still adore, even though a) the title track has been played to death, and b) critical reassessment has not been to kind on. I still kinda dig "American Pie", and "Vincent" is an absolutely beautiful ode to Van Gogh. "Sister Fatima" tugs at me a bit. And legend has it that "Empty Chairs" was his song that softly killed Lori Lieberman (uncredited co-writer of the Roberta Flack/Fugees hit)
His 1970 debut Tapestry is my personal favorite of his and as far as I'm concerned a five star masterpiece. But as for this one it's a real strong
(8.6) β
β
β
β
4
Feb 11 2025
Live!
Fela Kuti
8.35 β
β
β
β
4
Feb 12 2025
Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
First two songs alone make this in the upper echelon of albums. It does meander a bit but, powerful songs like the title track, and of course "Four Women", a statement unto itself just dominate the album.
9.8 β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Feb 13 2025
A Short Album About Love
The Divine Comedy
This really seems like an album I should not like it's very theatrical has a very '60s movie theme feel to it. Almost a Tom Jones or Petula Clark feel. I don't think I really like his voice or don't think that it's outstanding at least. But Man, the songs and the production really bring me in. The second time around probably even more so because I really was able to kind of listen to his lyrics and they were so tongue and cheek I find myself laughing and it really fitting the theatrical music around it. The song "If..." has got to be the strangest set of lyrics for a simple love song I have ever heard in my life and I was just about howling listening to them.
(9.3) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 14 2025
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Spiritualized
9.5 β
β
β
β
Β½
Spacy goodness that can. E V en transend the album length
4
Feb 15 2025
The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Honestly when I hear his name, this is the kind of music I associate with him... In fact most of the material I've heard sounds like this... I think the movie Ray highlighted the more daring aspects of his singles, but not the balladeer that he actually was.
I like his style and I love hus phrasing, but it's not as exciting as the single "Hit The Road Jack", "Hallelujah, I Love Her So", "I've Got A Woman" or "What'd I Say?". The opener "Let The Good Roll" is about the only track on here to capture that magic. The more up beat side one is more to my liking than the ballad laden side two. But there are few nice touches on that side especially the closer "Come Rain or Come Shine"
7.9 β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 16 2025
Roger the Engineer
The Yardbirds
I will never understand what the big deal about The Yardbirds. Other than they spawned three legendary guitarist and eventually "morphed" into one of the greatest classic rock groups of all time, their material as The Yardbirds is passable at best. None of this I would consider the best work of Jeff Beck. And although I do like the album, I don't think I reach to this over the Kinks, Stones, or Beatles
6.33 β
β
β
3
Feb 17 2025
Cross
Justice
Listening to it fully may be it's downfall for me... I was on board with the first three, and I really dig "Phantom Pt. II".... But everything after that just stopped doing it for me.
(6.8) β
β
β
3
Feb 18 2025
Pearl
Janis Joplin
My absolute favorite Janis album.. Her last two albums are bleedin' masterpieces... I have Kozmic Blues at 4Β½ as well
(9.6) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 19 2025
This Is Hardcore
Pulp
9.15 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 20 2025
Queen II
Queen
Still least favorite 70s Queen album... This one just does not resonate with me... I see pretty much all the elements they would refine an perfect in the next couple albums, but idk, I I'd have to go with the song selection seems even less memorable than the debut which I like a lot better.
6.67 β
β
β
3
Feb 21 2025
Junkyard
The Birthday Party
I think the cover perfectly illustrates the kind of music contained.... Brash for the sake of of bring brash. I know some find that "Daring", I just find it obnoxious. The audio equivalent of Jackass
I don't care if it's Nick Cave... It's absolutely atrocious
(1.55) Β½β
1
Feb 22 2025
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
This may not be my preferred jazz, but it's hard to deny the intensity. I actually enjoy it quite a bit
9.3 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 23 2025
Stardust
Willie Nelson
I want to like this album more because it's beautifully recorded, exquisitely performed and a wonderful batch of songs. At times the way the nylon string guitar sounds makes my hairs stand on end. But I'm the end it's a bit too reverent, too lush and too safe. I still really dig his version of "Blue Skies".
I can't fully give it 4 stars... But close enough to warrent it on the app
7.9 β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 24 2025
Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
Love the raw power of this album, some of it definitely pre-punk punk. Others rely a bit on 50s rock and roll riff which with their power gets nice and crunchy
8.66 β
β
β
β
4
Feb 25 2025
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
My least favorite of the three but still a miraculous album... There were times, though not often, the added orchestration seemed a bit much as well as the backing vocals on "Poor Boy", but for the most part it's an extremely moving album
9.35 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Feb 26 2025
All Hope Is Gone
Slipknot
Actually... There are parts I actually liked... Two thing that keep this from rising above 2....
One is the growling vocals which I can take in small doses, but as the main focus it becomes a massive hindrance. But when he sings in his normal voice I actually really dig it. The other is the almost comical use of the double kick... Honestly the trash influenced guitar style I really like makes me want to like this more... Two songs I do legitimately like "Dead Memories" and "Snuff" if more of the album was like that I coukd even go as high as 3Β½.
But most of it is the other shit.
2
Feb 27 2025
Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
He reminds me a bit of Booker T. Jones who is a favorite of mine... I'm sure Smith was an influence on him though they are contemporaries. I think early Smith predates Booker T.
This is like my ultimate chill music... It may not be a #1 pick, but man when listening to it, I just get lost in the groove. His '64 Christmas album is also a fave of mine.
(8.47) β
β
β
β
4
Feb 28 2025
Destroy Rock & Roll
Mylo
I don't know how anyone listens to this actively.... The banal nothingness I think I've ever heard. It's like listening to the color taupe.
(4.2) β
β
2
Mar 01 2025
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
I actually liked this a bit more than I remembered. Still not my preferred R&B, but there were songs that stuck out for me "Sweet Life", "Pyramids" and "Bad Religion"... I really dug AndrΓ© 3000 guitar on "Pink Matter" and at least smiled at the Elton sample on "Super Rich Kids" (not sure if I was high in the song, but loved the call out)
(6.5) β
β
β
3
Mar 02 2025
ImmigrΓ©s
Youssou N'Dour
This album makes me feel like I'm in a Pier 1 Imports in 1988.
That's not a bad thing, but it is a thing.
It reminds me of the world music craze of the late 80s early 90s, which I always appreciated, but never felt eager to delve further then what you could easily find on the surface. I do like it, and I can actually kind of kick back and chill with it, but it is not something I would deliberately seek out to listen. It's fine and it's enjoyable.
(7.3) β
β
β
Β½
3
Mar 03 2025
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
One of my long standing five star albums, my absolute favorite Stevie Wonder album, and currently my #2 of this project. Just solid end to end.
5
Mar 04 2025
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
5
Mar 05 2025
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
(8.83) β
β
β
β
4
Mar 06 2025
Blood And Chocolate
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
(8.4) β
β
β
β
4
Mar 07 2025
S&M
Metallica
(6.33) β
β
β
3
Mar 08 2025
In A Silent Way
Miles Davis
Probably my second or third favorite Miles Davis album behind A Kind of Blue an possibly On the Corner (the latter is a recent discovery for me, but I love it)
10 β
β
β
β
β
5
Mar 09 2025
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
My #10 GAOAT!
(10) β
β
β
β
β
5
Mar 10 2025
Pictures At An Exhibition
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
ELP is my least favorite of the big prog bands... Definitely more into Yes, Genesis, King Crimson and Moody Blues. I'm not sure I even have a fiver for ELP. Of all the albums I've heard, they've topped out at a strong four. They have genuine five star material, but their albums as a whole don't take me to that next level. I'm not really certain why as I think all three are phenomenal musicians on par and possibly even better than their contemporaries. My only guess is their approach is not 100% in my lane.
As for this album it might be one of my favorites definitely. Having Modest Mussorgsky as the main composer really helps a lot. Keith is on absolute fire on some of the solos. However, I feel at arms length with the material as a whole. I can admire it's beauty and technicalities, but it really doesn't give me all the feels.
(8.45) β
β
β
β
4
Mar 11 2025
Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
This project may (or may not) make a rap fan out of me yet. This is the fouth rap album I've put at four stars. (I don't have any above.)
As for this album as I mentioned before I love the laid back groove of the music. It really carries me along the album. Some of the latter half didn't, but for the most part I really dug the over all feel
(8.25) β
β
β
β
(could be a grower)
4
Mar 12 2025
Third/Sister Lovers
Big Star
Ok I did relisten to *Third/Sister Lovers* and reviewing the first 14 tracks (which according to producer Jim Dickerson is the intended order). I don't know if it's the track arrangement, or I've warmed up to the material since yesterday but this hit me much better (This actually has the same 14 tracks included in the original '78 US release, just drastically reordered.)
Opening with "Kizza Me" and "Thank You Friend" really starts off with an overall great feel, then sliding into "Big Black Car" to start a nice weave of emotion through out the album. Side one is perfect... wouldn't change a thing, ending in "Holocaust". The slight dip for me would be the first two tracks of side two "Kanga Roo" and "Stroke It Noel" which i noted as my least favorites from the last listen. But the run from "For You" to "Take Care" was a great way to end the album felt like a closure.
(8.5) β
β
β
β
4
Mar 13 2025
1989
Taylor Swift
There are three songs I really liked on this album, "Style", the self penned "This Love", and the Imogen Heap produced "Clean". There were a couple songs where the chorus would catch my ear while the rest of it just felt like uninspired pop ("Blank Space", "All You Had To Do Was Stay"). The rest is really the kind of Max Martin pop I really stay away from.
Then there's the egregious errors a) the fkg cheerleader beat on "Shake It Off" (I just don't like that particular brand of pop whether it's Taylor, Avril, Gwen, Chappell or even Toni Basil)...
b)"areweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoodsareweoutofthewoods areweintheclearyetareweintheclearyetareweintheclearyetareweintheclearyet" gave me a fkg headache...
and c) "Bad Blood" which everytime Taylor acts like a bad ass, it just comes off like high school drama.
Ultimately I don't like this album, but it's not horrendous. Just the hype around it makes it feel like it is.
(5.85) β
β
Β½
3
Mar 14 2025
Frampton Comes Alive
Peter Frampton
I think what has always kept this at a four stars is side four which is Sofa King good. The other three sides has a nice ebb and flow to it with a few great highlights. When it gets into jam mode I really dug it. Low point to me was the Stones cover.
(8.25) β
β
β
β
4
Mar 15 2025
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
Gahgh! This was a fucking chore to sit though.... I wanted to turn it off... I did like the the penultimate track...
So... (3.66) β
Β½
1
Mar 16 2025
Arc Of A Diver
Steve Winwood
Two songs really stand out for me. Of course "While You See a Chance", which is a top five Winwood solo track for me, and "Slowdown Sundown" the rest is pretty typical, run of the mill, 80s MOR pop rock, and this for the most part doesn't really stand out from the pack than say, Christopher Cross' debut. I find it odd that this made it over Back In The High Life or Roll With It which were not only more popular, but overall better listens, or even Take Back The Night which has "Valery" probably my top pick of his solo songs. (As a whole, though, I'd lean more towards Roll With It) this is a fine album, but for this list a bit underwhelming
(7.55) β
β
β
Β½
3
Mar 17 2025
The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
A longtime five star album for me, as far back as high school. My only gripe with the album is I always thought sides one and two should flop. There is no reason the title track and "Run to the Hills" should not open the album.... Though, "Hallowed Be Thy Name" is a perfect closer.
5
Mar 18 2025
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Three days in a row of albums in my collection. This is a semi recent acquisition, mainly got it for it's reputation alone. Though I really enjoy most of Ray Charles hits, the albums selected for this list tend to fall more in his big band or standards sound, wich is fine, but not the jumpin' R&B I really love from Uncle Ray.
The four Gerald Wilson big band brass arranged selections are my personal favorites, but half of the album is the string and vocal arrangement of Marty Paich, which were a bit too syrupy for me (though worked on (I Can't Stop Loving You")
(6.9) β
β
β
3
Mar 19 2025
Marquee Moon
Television
Great freakin album the title track if all kinds of great! Near perfect album.. But this may only be the third time I've heard it since the late aughts. If I had discovered this in the 80s, I probably would have been all over it.
(9.88) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Mar 20 2025
Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
5
Mar 21 2025
Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
This is nearly a perfect album, side one especially which is absolutely flawless. But the real cream of the crop are the album's closers "White Rabbit" and "Plastic Fantastic Lover". Talk about saving the best for last.
It's still a coin toss between this and Volunteers being my favorite Airplane Lp, but both solid albums for me.
(9.70) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Mar 22 2025
The World is a Ghetto
War
Over all the mix of African and Latin beats with funk and soul just gets my blood pumping. My favorites are the longer jammier tracks such as "City, Country, City" and the title track. Also the hit opener is still just as funky as ever. There are no real weak spots on the album, but I felt "Four Corner Room" kinda stuck out being a bit more sullen. I still a absolutely dig the track, but I noticed it at odds with the rest of the groove this listen around. But it is by no means a weak spot.
(9.8) β
β
β
β
Β½
5
Mar 23 2025
I See You
The xx
This album tried my patience for an hour and a half... which is pretty impressive for a 39 minute album.
(4.25) β
β
2
Mar 24 2025
Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
I do like this album, but I've heard some Joe Ely that's closer to my style, like his 1992 Love and Danger Lp, which me and my songwriting friends would play the hell out of around the time I moved to Memphis. But that was more of a rocker folk album, this is more of his Texicana country, which is a fun listen, but not an all timer to me. Though I put a star by "Boxcars". I really liked that one.
(7.7) β
β
β
Β½
3
Mar 25 2025
Tidal
Fiona Apple
One of my all time artist... Though I do absolutely love this album, I still feel When The Pawn... would have been a better selection over this. I'm glad Fetch The Bolt Cutters is still to come.
(9.1) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Mar 26 2025
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
This is actually my first time hearing this album as a whole and I absolutely adore it. Definitely a great sister album to Court & Spark which I historically have had at 4Β½. This list seems to have all three of her albums that document her journey from folk artist to her more jazz influenced form on Hirja. I'm looking forward to both of them coming up.
(9.6) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Mar 27 2025
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
10 β
β
β
β
β
5
Mar 28 2025
Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
Well I though I was going to like this more given my affinity to psych, but I found that's at as a pure psych band, they were a lesser Flaming Lips and as a 60s psych pop revival band, XTC did way better. My favorite song "Desire Lines" pretty much reminded me of an X&Y era Coldplay. Songs like "Saling" "Basement Scene" and put me on the struggle bus for this album, the former being a new form of torture, I've found. But where is is strong, it pull it out of its low spot pretty well.
(7.45) β
β
β
Β½
3
Mar 29 2025
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
8.88 β
β
β
β
4
Mar 30 2025
In Rainbows
Radiohead
I was not expecting to like this all that much, before today they've topped out and a high mid 4β
. But after listening to this I almost want to reassess my actual thoughts on Radiohead. This might be the album that finally clicks for me. I was honestly expecting this to be a bloopy mess, but most of it is far more straight forward than *Theif*, and even struck me as more passionate than *Computer*. This may be the album that reels me in.
9.33/10 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Mar 31 2025
No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
MotΓΆrhead
Love the energy, this does exactly what my some of favorite live albums do, catch the spirit of their live shows while highlight the best of their material to that point. It helps my appreciation that I'm at least a passive fan of MotΓΆrhead. I really don't own any of their albums, but this is seriously one I should have in my collection.
(9.45) β
β
β
β
Β½**
4
Apr 01 2025
Doolittle
Pixies
9 43
4
Apr 02 2025
The Who Sell Out
The Who
This will probably be my lowest Who on this list, I kniw I have *Next* and *Tommy* at five stars, *Live At Leeds* at a high 4Β½.... It's been a while since I've heard *My Generation* and have always loved the energy of that album but not sure where I place it between 4 & 4Β½.
After listening to *Sells Out* twice today, once on streaming to and from work, and once on my player. As a whole it leaves me comparatively underwhelmed, even though there are simply incredible moments on the album: "I Can See For Miles", "Sunrise", Armenia City" and "Tattoo". I dig the concept, but probably not fully executed well. (one of the tracks left off "Early Morning Cold Taxi" not was a better fit for the commercialism concept, it's actually better than some of the songs on the album)
Honestly I wanted to initially give this a really high 3Β½, but deemed it better than most of the stuff I had in my low fours, so I bumped up rating a smidge
4
Apr 03 2025
Haut de gamme / KoweΓ―t, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
I did not think this was horrid. In fact I think I could be something I could listen to if the production wasn't so chintzy. This did not only sound cheap for 1992, it would have sounded cheap in 1985. The freakin keys and drum sounds give me 80s consumer grade Yamaha feel, you know the kind you bought at Target. Just a step above Casio. If it had a more rich robust sound, I might be fine with it. But it just sounds like NPR royalty free music as is.
(4.5/10) β
β
2
Apr 04 2025
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
This starts off actually pretty damn good, but after the first five dings it falls off a fucking cliff. "Straight Outta Compton" and "Fuck The Police" are obvious highlights. My next favorite was actually "Parental Discretion Iz Advised" not really because of the rapping, but on the funky Groove and the jazzy piano really caught my attention good.
The rest of the album is pretty much almost text book example of why I don't like rap. Honestly, can Easy-E go four lines with out saying something about his dick? Also, the backing tracks on "I Ain't Tha 1" are so fucking corny, that it eclipses the total misogynistic lyrics of the rap.
Still most of Cube's And Ren's raps across the album are the highlights. I'm gonna go light 3Β½ just on the strength of the first five songs + "Express Yourself"
7.3 β
β
β
Β½
3
Apr 05 2025
1999
Prince
Sides 1, 2, and 4 are pretty much all five star material... 3 sags a bit, but Prince filler in the 80s is better Than most artists best albums
(9.6/10) β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Apr 06 2025
Close To You
Carpenters
I liked this slightly more than I was expecting, especially in the latter part of the second side where they try to be a bit more than the saccharin pop that made them famous. Starting with "Crescent Noon" which is a nice rich robust harmonies, a little bit more performance than pop based. "Mr. Guder" may not be the greatest written song but I was impress by the changes in tone and style, especially the a capella section. Still even in those parts the production is too polite to give it an edge... I kinda wish they had a more rocking band to do that one. My final highlight is "Another Song" which has a Karen letting loose on drums, I could instantly tell it was not the polite studio sound of Hal Blane, but I looked it up just to be sure. She really sounds like she's pounding them skins...
Overall though, I'm really not into the soft easy listening pop which was, quite frankly marketed to people like my mom... at home mom's who grew up on 50s and 60s pop standards. I'm not a fan, but I've always been in love with Karen's voice. I just wish she had better material.
5.5 β
β
Β½
2
Apr 07 2025
Gentlemen
The Afghan Whigs
If I had heard this in 1993 I would have eaten this the fuck up. I'm not sure how I missed them. They were popular enough that I'm familiar with their name, but for some reason never got familiar with their material. This was a superb listen. Still enjoy this sound, man, I love dirty alt rock. Not quite a fiver for me.
9.7/10 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Apr 08 2025
Purple Rain
Prince
Honestly one of my top 25 albums of all time
5
Apr 09 2025
461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Not really going to say much about Clapton other than in my opinion he's simultaneously over rated and over hated. Quite frankly, my favorite songs were his penned "Give Me Strength" and "Get Ready" (w/ Yvonne Elliman) 'Let it Flow" along with George Terry's "Mainline Florida" The rest is fine but nbd, except for the fact I can't stand his cover of "I Shot the Sherrif", whenever I hear it I want to shoot the radio.
3
Apr 10 2025
Ys
Joanna Newsom
I really like the musical ideas she was going with. And her sounding pretty much like a modern day Melanie helped. Still some of the songs are way too long, especially "New Skin"
I may have to revisit this at sometime and see if it grows with age.
7.65/10 β
β
β
Β½
3
Apr 11 2025
Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
As much as I friggin' love this album, I still say The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion should have been included over this, as well as Amorica. But this is hands down a phenomenal album in its own right.
9.6/10 β
β
β
β
Β½
4
Apr 12 2025
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
Most of this album I really dig quite a bit, especially the first side. But most of the covers don't do it for me. Their take On James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" is aces, the rest, I'm not crazy about the arrangements. Though I'm not a big fan of "Sumner Breeze" in general, it actually does have a killer solo on it, one of the best on the album. But the rest of the song ain't my thing. (What cha gonna do?).
All the originals are supurb. "That Lady" has always been a fave of mine.
Given the first four tracks and the side 2 opener, "What it Comes Down To", I can't drop this below the four threshold. All in all it's too good.
8.25/10 β
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4
Apr 13 2025
Elastica
Elastica
I actually gave this two listens because I was kinda borderline on it. I can really see why I was in to this when "Connection" was the big alt hit. In fact this album is at its best when it's hitting that dirty alt Britpop sound . There were other songs that seemed to channel Blondie (pre *Parallel Lines* era, when they still had their punkier edge). I really enjoyed those. But there were tracks here and there that kind of really didn't land in either category. I think overall the album feels a bit disjointed but I really enjoy most of what is represented throughout the album
4
Apr 14 2025
Blunderbuss
Jack White
I did downgrade *Blunderbuss* this listen around. I seemed to notice the album was pretty front loaded, this listen though. The first five still friggin amaze me, but as the album progress it felt a bit more uneven than I remembered, but "I'm Shakin''' and "Take Me With You When You Go" are great highlights afterwards... Also there something almost Granny McCartney leanings I dug about "Poor Boy", but probably wouldn't count it as a highlight.
(9.65) β
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Β½
4
Apr 15 2025
Live And Dangerous
Thin Lizzy
Man the Thin Lizzy set is too fun to deny.
There were a couple track thoughout that I thought my rating would chill, but it would go back to high energy again and I'd be right back to a firm 4Β½.
(9.5) β
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(9.5) β
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4
Apr 16 2025
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
I liked this a hell of a lot better than I was expecting, especially when it got meaty beaty, big... maybe not bouncy. Seriously, I loved the dirty sound.
(8.85) β
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4
Apr 17 2025
Iβm a Lonesome Fugitive
Merle Haggard
If I had to think of a reason why this one was included over *Mama Tried*, I would have to say is that this was the beginning of Merle Haggard's run of hits starting with the title track. But I don't think this album as a whole really states who Merle Haggard is. I listened to the *Mama Tried* album shortly after listening to this one and that is truly the sound of Merle Haggard country fans know and love. At least it's more of what I think of when he's namedropped. As for the album *I'm a Lonesome Fugitive*, it's good but I think it is comparatively a pretty bland album. Parts of me wants to give it a 3Β½ because, let's face it it's Merle and it is kind of the beginning of his fame. But I'm going to keep it at a pretty high 3-star album, because ultimately I don't think it feels like a 3Β½.
(6.95) β
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3
Apr 18 2025
Live At The Regal
B.B. King
I do believe the the hype on this one.
B.B. I think gives a fierce stellar performance, and his band really cooks. I absolutely dig the twin horn arrangement. (Coming from Memphis, I'm used to twin or trio brass arrangements with live full band blues). Honestly this pretty killer performance in my book.
9.55/10 β
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4
Apr 19 2025
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
9.6/10 β
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Β½
4
Apr 20 2025
Reign In Blood
Slayer
I really did not dislike *Reign In Blood* as much as I was expecting. Slayer was the only band I the big four of thrash that I never really got into. Most of it stems from absolutely hating *Hell Awates* when I first heard it back in '85. I really never gave them a chance afterwards. Listening to this I really did enjoy some of the thrash riffs which did remind me a lot of Metallica in the early to mid 80s. But I think what really put me off is Tom Araya's vocal Style. Unlike Hetfield, he's not very melodic. He mostly just screams in a stream of conscious. When he got into a good fast riff in his style I could somewhat get into it but as a whole it's nothing I really like listening to.
5.5/10 β
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Β½
2
Apr 21 2025
The Last Broadcast
Doves
There are several songs I really enjoyed off this album, especially the first three tracks, ("Words", "There Goes the Fear", "M62 Song"), also "Pounding" and "Cought by the River". But they're also are a few tracks of the latter part of that really take me out of the project most notably "Friday's Dust" and "Last Broadcast. Overall enjoyable, but hit me like a cross between contemporaries Coldplay and Snow Patrol.
8.1/10 β
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4
Apr 22 2025
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
I am a huge fan of the first five studio albums + *Live After Death*. All of them rank high 4Β½ to five. I honestly don't think any album after *LAD* even come close.
Of the two DiAnno albums this is my favorite I think mainly because of its raw punky almost DIY attitude it has. And all of that come down to Paul's fierce delivery. I think this album fits DiAnno better than *Killers*. Even though on *Killers* they've progressed musically from the debut, you can tell they really were starting to need more theatrical vocalist than DiAnno. But he pulls it off. The debut, though, he fits in like a glove and the raw power behjnd it is inescapable to my ears.
9.8/10 β
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5
Apr 23 2025
Being There
Wilco
I've never been as big of a Wilco fan as some of my colleagues, but I do like them a good bit. So far *Kicking Television* has been my favorite album of theirs I've heard at a (9.5) 4Β½β
album loved that one. I gave *Mermaid Avenue* a 3Β½β
s on a 1998 music dive, and let's just say *Cruel Country* was more cruel than country to my ears.
This one is fairs much better than the other two studio albums. Historically when ever I heard them on Lightning 100, I'd make note to check them out further, but never got so excited about them to just dive in. This and the live album actually kinda does make me want to do a full dive.
8.5/10 β
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4
Apr 24 2025
Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
4
Apr 25 2025
Done By The Forces Of Nature
Jungle Brothers
I honestly dug this more than I was expecting. I do like more positive forward rap. When this first started, I thought the hour runtime was going to run me down, but they mixed it up a just enough to keep my interest. Plus some familiar samples make me look like Leonard Dicaprio pointing... Most notably the Blue Suede, and Bee Gees samples.
I'm still quite a ways from calling myself one who appreciates Rap/hip-hop, but this really felt good to me
(7.1) β
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Β½
3
Apr 26 2025
Disintegration
The Cure
I actually am still floored by this album even though I haven't heard it in about 35 years. I think a lot of it has to do with the keyboard landscapes of the album (not sure if they are Smith's or O'Donnell's or the combo). But they kind of remind me of some of Tony Carey's work on his Planet P Project albums. Almost like a somber backdrop, that helps accentuate the guitar and vocals. I have long considered this the one Cure album I actually like, though I have warmed up to them over the years, especially recently going through the other two albums on the 1001. In some ways after listening to those albums and this one I'm not 100% sure why this one overtly sticks out because there is still the same gothy dark feeling of Pornography and Seventeen Seconds. Though they went through two album where they more poppy, so it might be that on this album he was able to put those worlds together and make a really strong accessible sound of the dark landscapes of their early albums. Either way, I think this is a monumentous album 9.70/10β
β
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Β½ But Honestly, the two tracks that were omitted for the Ip were my least favorite of the album. I have a feeling if they were not part of the album that may even be up to a 9.85/10 (still 4Β½s) but I will give it β
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on the app.
5
Apr 27 2025
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
I like soul/funk, but I thought this was just ok. *Superfly* I get being on this list. This one, unless they taking the social message of the album, truly isn't really all that groundbreaking or exemplary. "Billy Jack", "Hard Times" and "Love to the People" were the standout tracks, but all together, they don't match the the immediacy of *Superfly*. The rest is quite frankly kind of faceless. (6.8) β
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3
Apr 28 2025
Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
This album tries my patience every turn after repetitive turn. I get the building a landscape thing, but it just kinda lumbers there and goes nowhere. Two songs I can be in the same room with were "roygbiv" which finally found a groove I can jive with and "Open The Light" which at least had more of spacey instumental quality to it. Maybe it was the lack of an overly repeatative drum loop. And both of those were late the album. But most of it felt like a loopy, bloopy, and sound sample mess to me. Orange.
2.5/10β
If this *Music Has the Right to Children*, I'm calling Child Protective Service... NOW!
1
Apr 29 2025
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
8.4/10 β
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4
Apr 30 2025
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I don't know what it is about Elvis Costello, but there is something that keeps me from really getting into him more than an "ok, I guess that's kinda cool" feeling. And what's weird is I feel like I should really like him. I just don't and can't put my finger on why.
This one "just ok"er than the other two I've had so far. I can admire the craft of it, but man I just don't feel it.
(6.8) β
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3
May 01 2025
Achtung Baby
U2
Honestly, I don't know if it's the nostalgia, or it just hits me better than it did when I was 22. I mean I always kind of had it high cuz I always had it at a 4Β½ star rating, but this is really getting close to 5 this listen. This album really is a bridge between '80s U2 and 90s U2. Now granted, I was not the biggest on *Zooropa* or *Pop*, but I always admired them for taking major chances as one of the if not the biggest band of the time. Yeah, this was kind of my end of the line with U2 not really because of this album. Yes this album had minor flip-offs to their '80s sound (especially the opening track and the first single). The next two albums basically was the big middle finger to who they once were. This album honestly is a masterpiece at teetering the the line between accessibility and trying something daring and new. *Joshua Tree* is still my only five star album by them, but this is actually pretty close.
(9.85) β
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5
May 02 2025
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Another all-time banger. This is actually my fouth favorite Black Sabbath album after the debut, Heaven & Hell, and Mob Rules. I still say one of the RJD Sabbath albums should have been included. Still, this is one of Ozzy's finest moments... War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man, Electric Funeral, Hand of Doom, and Fairies Wear Boots are all killer classic Sabbath to me, it seems to be the third song on each side that slightly dips it for me. Rat Salad is utter filler.
9.8/10 β
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5
May 03 2025
Parallel Lines
Blondie
Staring with the five singles those are out of the gate bangers. There is a reason two of them are still major players on the radio 37 years later. Their cover of The Nerves' "Hangin' on the Telephone" deserves to be up there with "One Way or Another" and "Heart of Glass". (I do miss the French lryic on "Sunday Girl" which adorns their *Best of* Lp.) The other Jack Lee song "Will Anything Happen?" and the Frip enhanced "Fade Away and Rotate" are great stand out tracks. Most of the rest feel a bit like filler comparatively, but they do a great job covering Buddy Holly and "11:59" has great energy.
(8.8) β
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4
May 04 2025
Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
I'm not sure why this one and not either *Mama Said* or *Are You Gonna Go My Way*. I don't think this one is bad, actually enjoy his first five or six albums, but this is not as the it factor of the next two.
(7.6/10) β
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3
May 05 2025
System Of A Down
System Of A Down
Thus album is fucking garbage... In fact, I'd rather be fucking garbage.
(2.2) β
1
May 06 2025
C'est Chic
CHIC
Well, I personally like the disco songs better than the two non-disco songs... at least I liked the two disco hits "Le Freak" and "I Want Your Love", plus "Sometimes You Win" (the other three disco tracks were definitely subpar disco filler.) But if there is one think I never liked about Chic as a whole is the kind of faceless female harmonies they employ. I remember noting that on the Sister Sledge album, as one thing that kept me from really digging that album. But at least with Sister Sledge, there was strong lead vocal to carry it. This it just kinda falls a bit flat, even on the hits. Musically, I can actually dig the disco grooves, but all in all this is bland when it's not bad...
"At Last I'm Free" was quite frankly the most boring song in the set. I almost fell asleep walking my dog.
(4.6) β
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2
May 07 2025
Life Thru A Lens
Robbie Williams
I find it pleasantly enjoyable despite bring not particular anything great.... Kinda like Katy Perry's *Teenage Dream*... Fluffy like cotton candy and with all the nutrients.
6.85/10 β
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3
May 08 2025
New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
||Yeah... I don't get this... It's like take what The Cure was doing and do it with out passion or catchy melodies. It just as sounds like faceless early 80s synth new wave. To make things worse some of these songs go of for fucking ever without going any where So many bands at the time were doing this better. Soft Cell, Depeche Mode Siouxsie & The Banshees....
(5.3) β
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Β½
2
May 09 2025
Crossing the Red Sea With the Adverts
The Adverts
I overall like the sound of the album, great energy, but I'm not sure what they bring to the table. They almost feel like a link between Punk and Post Punk but that had already happened by the time this album came out in early 1978. It's a great listen though.
(7.2) β
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3
May 10 2025
Raw Power
The Stooges
I listen to both the original Bowie mix and 1997 Iggy mix the App lead me to. Despite the fact that there is a vast difference between the two, I really don't really prefer one over the other. I might give a slight Edge to the Bowie mix just because it's it's brighter and I can hear the the guitar solos a little bit better, where the Iggy mix feels a little bit more muffled but the riffs come out better. Still, the plain fact is they both sound like crap and vastly different ways. I don't know if it's the sonics that keep it from being a five to me or the fact that it's really not a five-star album but it is a really good album. Honestly, I don't think it's the sonics really that hurt this album at all. In fact I think the more raw it feels the better... I mean it is *Raw Power* anyway.
(9.3/10) β
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4
May 11 2025
Shaka Zulu
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
I kinda like this as a certain curio with their connection to Paul Simon's Graceland. But honestly it gets rather Sammy and boring as the album goes along even though I enjoy the sound. All in all I can't see myself ever returning to this, unless I listen to it in conjunction with Graceland itself. Even in that I probably wouldn't make it through the album just slightly snoozy for me
6.6/10 β
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3
May 12 2025
Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Absolutely amazing album probably my favorite album of hers, I've only heard like 10 to 15 out of 60 some odd. But this and *Joline* are her high water mark of what I've heard
(9.93) β
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5
May 13 2025
Grace
Jeff Buckley
An absolute beautiful album. There is so much I can hear of his contemporary, some off his harder grooves give almost a slight AIC feel "Last Goodbye" even gave the feel acoustically. Also "So Real" gave me a bit of Radiohead feel. But also some that would inspire the future. I hear some early *Blue Room* Coldplay in "Grace", and "Lover, You Should Come Over" feels like a blueprint for John Mayer. This is really only the second (and third) time listening to this album and each time it grows a bit on me... Maybe I'll hit that five one day.
But for now... (9.7) β
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4
May 14 2025
Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
It's taking me a while to get Brian Eno because a lot of the first stuff I heard was this ambient music albums, and ambient music and me don't really get along that well. It tends to bore me. I do like his work and Roxy Music and I absolutely love the Byrne & Eno we will have coming up on this list. Of course I know his production work with other bands, which generally been seem to be some of my favorite albums by those artists. This may be the first pop oriented album I've heard by him on his on his own and I honestly wish I had time to listen to this a second time before my review because it is a very good album but I think it's one that I want to really digest its intricacies. First thing almost anytime I hear Fripp and Eno together, it's almost instant magic. "Baby's On Fire" I can listen to on a loop.
Some of the songs feel like they want to be a little off-center from what I like, but as they went along it would hit my warm spot good.
I'm giving this a mid 4Β½ stars for now but I can see this growing further for me.
9.4 β
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4
May 15 2025
E.V.O.L.
Sonic Youth
I really liked thus more than I thought I would. What kinda struck me were like hints oh Siouxsie's *The Scream* which ended up being my second favorite S&tB album. Noise rock has to really walk a fine line for me to enjoy it. Just enough accessibility that I don't lose interest and just enough experimentation to challenge my comfort zone without scaring me off. This album walked that line, got the most part pretty well. In fact for most of this album it looked like it was going to be a moderate to low four-stars... until the the antepenultimate and penultimate songs, "Secret Girl" and "Marilyn Moore" which just went too far to the left field for my taste. But the closer reeled it back just enough to not totally tank the rating (even though the droning at the end went on a bit too long)
7.95 β
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4
May 16 2025
Quiet Life
Japan
I really seem to have an affinity for pre MTV generation new wave. (you'll see more of that from me when we get to Gary Newman, I don't think any Tubeway Army is on here). This really gave me a Duran Duran vibe and to some extent, I dug this more than the double D's. I was actually turned onto Japan four yeas ago when I did a daily 81 dive and *Tin Drum* came up. I really didn't write the album's rating or take notes I was just listening for fun. I do remember really enjoying that album when I got to it. I really ought to do. A quick dive on them, the only have five proper albums and a reunion album under a assumed name. As for this light but solid 4
8.4/10 β
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4
May 17 2025
Low
David Bowie
I'm sticking with my usual rating for this high 4-star. "Speed of Life", "Sound and Vision", and "Be My Wife" are all f'n aces with me. "Always Crashing" and "Breaking Glass" are not far behind. The only track on side two I really get into is "Warszawa" maybe to a lesser extent "Weeping Wall". The closer however sounds nice, but maybe too trance like for me.
8.8 β
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4
May 18 2025
Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
I am probably softer on pre-"old school" rap (I've noticed when anyone refers to old school rap they only refer to 90s rap.) Though when this was released I was in my "rap is crap" phase, something I started shedding in the early to mid 90, it was really looking back at the early 80s rap that first started my turn to find some appreciation for the genre (probably because by that time it was that rap that was being incorporated into rock more so than say Biggie or Tupac.)
As far as this album, first of all the three main singles seem to be the key tracks, especially "Rock Box" which I totally love. "That's the Way It Is" is the only song in here I was very familiar with from way back in the day. I like it now, didn't then.
But my biggest take away from this album is the big drum sound which I'm just gonna go out and say it... No Run-D.M.C., no *Big Bam Boom*, not that Hall & Oates were trying to rap, but they totally copied that drum sound for the "Dance On Your Knees"/"Out of Touch" opener.
I personally a) like what I've heard from *Raisin' Hell* better, "Tricky" and "Walk This Way" are tops. ||I actually like the Aerosmith cover better than the original, but that more has to with the choral effects on Tyler's vocals on the chorus in the original kinda takes the steam coming out of the verses. The raw screech of Tyler in the remake has a f'n great bite||, and b) much prefer the Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's style of rapping much more that Run-D.M.C.'s. But in this album is really the template of the future of rap, even though I will probably mark *Raisin' Hell* as their masterpiece once we get there.
8.1 β
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4
May 19 2025
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
6.65 β
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3
May 20 2025
Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
It seems to me the biggest grip about this album is the skits, which for the most part fit the theme of the album. Usually when I don't like skits are when there needless (often humorous) bumpers between song. The only two sketches I really could gripa about was the sex moan one and the slurpy smooch one. Most of the rest fit the theme of hyper violence and street life. Which brings me to what I didn't like about this album, and that is the message and overall tone of the album. I get that this album is not for me it's not for my demographics or my personal outlook on life. Taking that in consideration this is actually a better album than probably the rating I'm going to give it just because I do not enjoy the feeling it gives me. And my and mine comfortableness listening to this is probably kind of the point because it's not written for people like me. I am actually glad I gave it a good listen over and ingested what it had to say, but I can't find myself revisiting this as something I would want to rehash over and over. Must hear before I die? Sure... I'll give it that. Is it something I like or enjoy that I do not.
4.7 β
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2
May 21 2025
We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
Maybe I shouldn't have been so afraid of this album. It's not unlistenable, but it's hard for me to take it seriously. Honestly it's kinda like listening to a comedy album. It's almost too easy to just dismiss it because of that.
"What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?", "Let's Make the Water Turn Black", and "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance"
But then there's "Nasal Retentive Calliope Music" and "The Chrome Plated Megaphone of Destiny" which are pretty much musique concrète, which I personally have a hard tine finding a point in them. The rest is kinda mindless silly nonsense to me. It feels a Monty Python album that just isn't all that funny.
5.55 β
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Β½
2
May 22 2025
Stankonia
OutKast
I actually disliked this one more so than I did the Biggie album... On the *RTD* it really was the message and the tone made me feel uncomfortable, but overall the production and his style of rapping I really dug. This however for the most part I really just did not like it. When it got more R&B bassed I liked it a lot... I'm guessing that's the 3000 effect, I reall liked it. So Fresh So Clean, Ms. Jackson, B.O.B. A few other. But definitely Snappin' & Trappin', I'll Call B4 I Cum I just plain disliked to no end. This also had so many skits that just felt more like filler than telling the story... Plus thus album felt longer than hell, but I was checking to see how much I had left about half way through... I didn't even do that for Biggie which was only ten min shorter.
4.5 β
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2
May 23 2025
Dog Man Star
Suede
The Rise & Fall of Ziggyphychostardustcandy
9.4 β
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4
May 24 2025
Young Americans
David Bowie
The Title track, Fame and Facination are obvious highlights in fact all of side one really kicks. Side 2 is hampered by a rather drab Across The Universe, but other than Fame really doesn't live up to side 1
8.75 β
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4
May 25 2025
The Blueprint
JAY Z
I'm going with a (6.8) β
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for *The Blueprint* and thus might have room to grow. There are some rap tropes in here that are reasons why rap is not a preferred genre for me, most notably the endless boasting and posturing. Still, there was enough compelling elements too to kinda perk up my ears. One is the nod to Bowie on "Takeover". I actually am not crazy about the song, but the use of "Fame" gave me a pleasant chuckle.
Surprisingly one of my favorite tracks on the album was "Renegade" with Emenem which suprised me in that that period of Emenem is one that usually grates on my nerves.
But honestly the more self revealing title track really tugged my emotions a bit.
I can't say I'm full in on this album or even 75%, but but there is much to admire
3
May 26 2025
Rhythm Nation 1814
Janet Jackson
I'm about with everyone else on the 3Β½ train. I, however didnt mind the slow song in that it breaks up the somewhat samey beats of the New Jack Swing, the sound which Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were known for. I don't necessarily hate the sound, but it was so ubiquitous of the late '80s early 90s R&B pop to the point it just makes me roll my eyes now. ( I think historically I did not like the sound, but these days when I come across it it just reminds me of a time) Honestly as far as examples of this genre this album kind of excels more than most. The title track is still a banger. "State of the World" actually kind of reminded me of what Michael Jackson would do on *Dangerous* two years later. Except for the slow songs most of the beats are somewhat interchangeable, which kind of made the slow songs a little release. Though they did cram too many of them at the end, though I really liked "Come Back To Me" which kinda had a female BIIM feel to it, two years before their debut. Go figure.
7.6 β
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3
May 27 2025
Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
Two things that keep this from being a full 5 stars for me, and that's "Little Miss Strange" and "Long Hot Sumner Night" and the fact they together open up side 2 stick out like a sore thumb. I'm not crazy about "...And The Gods Made Love" but as a psych album prelude it kinda works. Not a track I'd listen to on its own.
The rest of the album is fukkin fire. And if it wasn't for those two outta place filler songs, it would even rival the UK *Experienced?* debut... Probably not the US version, but definitely the UK.
9.85 β
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5
May 28 2025
Repeater
Fugazi
I really liked Piccioto songs the most in fact a lot. Some of Mackay songs were to screamy for me, but there were a few of those I dug pretty well. I actually liked this more than I thought I would. At times it's kinda punk meets grunge, even though the big grunge breakthrough hadn't happened yet. They must have had their ear to the ground
8.4 β
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4
May 29 2025
Tanto Tempo
Bebel Gilberto
Bebel Gilberto - *Tanto Tempo*
I absolutely love her voice. She has a Norah Jones quality when she's more intimate. Which is why "Samba E Amor" might be my favorite track. Just a nice full body Spanish guitar and her sultry voice send my hairs on snd. Still for the most part Vasa Nova is not a fave of mine. I can chill with it with some wine and good company but it's not a go to. Also when the album ventures off the bossa nova she loses the purr in her voice. I'm going for a light 3Β½ for basically her voice alone. Could have been higher if I was more into the music. Blame it on the basa nova.
7.2 β
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Β½
3
May 30 2025
Document
R.E.M.
1001 Album of the Day #276
R.E.M. - No. 5 Document [1987]
It's no secret I consider Document, Green, and Out of Time R.E.M.'s trifecta. Also that I hold all of their albums up to Monster in high regard. This album to me, however, is their crown jewel?
(10) β
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5
May 31 2025
Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
DP MkII is such a powerhouse line up. All the way around. Although Richie's guitar is obviously the star, John Lord's keys are just absofuckinglutely amazing. When Ian Gillen gets on that howl it just sends my hairs is on end. And the steadfast Paice & Glover rhythm section is perfection. I think the only thing that keeps this from being an absolute five-star is there are a number of songs on here that I think the actual melody of the songs weren't quite there. The closing track, probably cuz it's fresh on my mind, is a prime example though the dynamics that Gillen has are absolutely amazing, yet I found the actual melody of the song itself just not much. And there was a couple of other tracks on there like that. But the centerpiece of the album "Child In Time", which is probably my absolute favorite Deep Purple song, doesn't suffer from that at all. Great melody throughout the entire song, Just killer dynamics and the production and performance are just spot on. And oh my gosh that Ian Gillen wailing cry, it just about makes me weep every single time.
9.6 β
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Β½
4
Jun 01 2025
Zombie
Fela Kuti
I actually really enjoyed this album. Probably probably from, spending my college Years listening to '90s jam bands which would often employ afrobeats. But I really love not only the Fierce message of the song but also the fierce playing that goes along with it.
8.55 β
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4
Jun 02 2025
Ocean Rain
Echo And The Bunnymen
I feel I may have to come back to this. I've had mixed feelings through out the whole album.
It started out decently fine but by the time I got to "The Yo Yo Man", I wanted this album to be over.
But then came a trio of 80s gothic pop perfection in "The Killing Moon", "Seven Seas" and, "My Kingdom". Honestly, I think of the rest of the album felt like this, I'd be way more on board. I'm giving it a lower mid 3Β½. I do honestly kinda feel if this album didn't hit me the way it should have today. There are some killer parts to some of the other tracks, especially "Thorn of crowns" but, the overall droning of the album I just could 100 get behind.
(7.35) β
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Β½
3
Jun 03 2025
In Utero
Nirvana
Ok... As for me half of this album is fucking brilliant. "Heart-Shaped Box", "Rape Me", "Francis Farmer...", "Dumb", "Pennyroyal Tea", and my personal favorite Nirvana song, "All Apologies" are all absolute bangers. Five more songs like that and yes I would call this a five star, hands down. The rest honestly are just too raw and noisy for the sake of being raw and noisy. That usually doesn't sit well with me. But some of those tracks overcome that. Like the opening tracks "Sereve The Servant" and "Scentless Apperentice", which though I'm not as high on as the six I mentioned earlier, really feel fine in the context of the album. Then there is "Milk It" and "Tourette's" which we'll is just a bunch of screaming nonsense to me.
Over all this is a great album, but as I've always maintained, doesn't hold a candle to "Nevermind" as far as excellence. I don't care how many Nirvana fans have tried to convince me till they're blue in the face that this is a far better album and that I don't have any ears for not recognizing that. I'm not aiming that at anyone here, but it has historically made me kinda despise the album in retrospect. Every time I listen to it I keep on trying to find what it is that everyone talks about, but I don't hear it. I tried not to listen to it in that context this time around. And yes actually is a very good album.
8.75 β
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4
Jun 04 2025
American Idiot
Green Day
This was the album that kind of changed my mind on Green day. Not that I dislike them, I actually like them quite a bit in the 90s, but I never took them seriously. They were a fun jokey pop punk band that sang songs about masturbating while bored. Up until this album I just kind of thought that if I had *Dookie* and their greatest hits I'd be fine.
This album though really showed some depth that I never thought I'd actually ever see from Green Day. It's not just the sprawling epic of the concept, but also in the musicality which crosses the line between pop punk and classic rock. In fact I hear in a couple of songs some pretty heavy homages to The Who.
The singles really hit hard even today. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends", which were well needed moments for me 20 years ago. The title track still bangs even if it it truly of the political landscape of the time. I probably would call "Jesus of Suburbia" and "Homecoming", though, the real anchor tracks of this album, the songs that really shift the concept into high gear. Quite honestly the first half of the album is pure perfection "American Idiot" to "St. Jimmy" (basically the first two sides though I do not consider this a double album).
(10) β
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5
Jun 05 2025
evermore
Taylor Swift
*Tater-more* -
IDKW, but I do actually legitimately like this album. It's a lot for there's still things that she does that bugs me, but I think overall the more folkier she gets the better she sounds. I've never considered her a great vocalist, but I think she's carries emotion in her vocals pretty well. (Probably why in her more whiny pop songs feel even whinier) With an album like this, which feels a bit more vulnerable then her straightforward pop, her approach actually kind of works for me. Light four stars
8.2
4
Jun 06 2025
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I really enjoyed revisiting pretty much all the way through.
I will say that it is very front loaded, though I think the back half supports it really well, even if most of it are lesser versions of what was earlier in the album. "Savior" to me is a great late album track. Probably my favorite of the non hits on here. "Otherside" is still probably my favorite RHCP song. If there is one thing that I found frustrating is after "Savior" the sequencing just sucks. Though "Road Trippin" I think is a great song and a great way to end the album, and the other two songs aren't terrible, they just kind of feel like they were tacked in there without thought of flow or anything. Still overall a really good listen not quite 4Β½ stars to me but in the upper quarter of 4.
4
Jun 07 2025
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Reggae will never be not boring to me. But when this album steps out of the reggae trappings, the classic rock overtones of "Concrete Jungle" opening, the gospel feel of "Stop That Train", the multi cultural feel of War of "No More Trouble", this album really shines. Then there's "Stir It Up", whjch along with "Three Little Birds", might be my absolute favorite strict reggae songs.
The rest of the album I'd fall into good reggae, but still reggae. It only takes me so far.
8.4 β
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4
Jun 08 2025
Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
I'm sorry this album does zero for me. I literally have no feeling for it either way. For the hell if it I'll give it a tenth of a point on the up side. (6.1) β
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3
Jun 09 2025
Raw Like Sushi
Neneh Cherry
This might be the most of its time album in this whole list. If I didn't know a thing about this album ahead of time I would have said this is straight up 1989. It has every pop trope of that year. Listen to any Billboard Top 40 countdown from that year and you will hear at least a dozen songs that sound exactly like this album. Quite frankly, other than the mega-hit "Buffalo Stance" I really don't find this album essential or influential. It jus is what ever 1989 is.
(5.4) β
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Β½ (two on the app)
2
Jun 10 2025
Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
The only fiver I have for Paul... This was his solo masterpiece
10 β
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5
Jun 11 2025
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
I'm sure there is at least a solid low 2β
album hidden the this mess. But it's muddled with about an EP's worth of 4+β
material, and a handful of tracks that arent so bad.
Overall feeling... (6.75) β
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Β½
3
Jun 12 2025
I'm Your Man
Leonard Cohen
This album is unrelentingly and unnecessarily 80s. It really begs the question, does this work. And somehow the answer for me is yeah. Non an emphatic "yeah", but I will say it's Cohen's delivery that sell the product more than the production around it. Not to mention, sans "Jazz Police", this might be his best written batch of songs he put on one album. "First We Take Manhattan", "Everybody Knows", "I'm Your Man", and "Tower of Songs" are absolute masterstrokes... and maybe to a lesser extent "Ain't No Cure For Love" and "Take This Waltz"
Yes, the production does get in the way a bit, but overall Cohen still pull this off as a flawed gem. (8.5) β
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4
Jun 13 2025
Smile
Brian Wilson
I think it is the lore behind this album that makes it essential more so than the album itself.
I kind like *Smiley Smile* it it's cutesy artsy fartsy way, but I've always felt they (or he) were trying to be too silly for the good of the album. I think I'd much rather some carved together version of the original *Smile* recordings over this remake, which tbh, are not as good as *Smile* material that the Beach Boys subsequently released.
I'm gonna go with a light 3, I guess out of respect for Wilson as an artist, and the material itself, which is better than its execution. (6.2) β
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3
Jun 14 2025
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
First thing's first... Memphis music is cool by definition!
One thing this album historically has going for it is that it is the first official Stax lable Lp, a Memphis studio and record label that would help define R&B in the 60s and 70s. Booker T in the MGs were basically the Stax Studio house band, backing the likes of Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Albert King and more... and even in the '80s Aykroyd and Belushi used Steve Cropper and "Duck" Dunn (though Dunn had not joined by this album) to help nail the sound of 60's R&B.
So is this album essential? I'm actually going to say yes only because of what it represents to R&B from that point on.
Quite honestly, they really had some great originals and some great singles, but I've always found the albums themselves having a fair amount of filler. This one is no exception. Honestly pretty much everything on the first side other than "Twist and Shout" I really enjoyed. The second side is primarily filler, though there are a couple of tracks I noted on that side as well. Two of the originals, the hit title track, and "Behave Yourself", are truly the highlights of this album as well as the two Ray Charles covers "I've Got A Woman", and "Lonely Nights". Both of those really have a Memphis Jam feel to them and I absolutely enjoyed that. The other original, "Mo' Onions", is obviously a quick call back of the big hit. Unfortunately like most music sequels it never compares to the original. I also liked to a lesser extent "Rinky Dink" and "Comin' Home Baby". The rest, though, is filler city.
7.9/10 β
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Β½
4
Jun 15 2025
Back In Black
AC/DC
I do not remember a time I didn't absolutely love this album end to end... well, maybe before I was 11. I personally have three AC DC albums that I consider five stars, their International debut High Voltage, Highway to Hell, and this masterpiece. I do, for the most part, prefer the Bon Scott era, but it is so hard to deny this album in particular. Every song into end, all killer no filler.
(10) β
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5
Jun 16 2025
Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
I think I do like the follow up a bit more than this. I do like the rawness of this one, but I feel *Habitual* may be a bit more sharper and focused.
There are parts of this album that can see the 90s coming, but sometimes the production screams late 80s. Even though I absolutely love "Moutaun Song" it is the most 1988 rock radio ready song on the album. The gated reverb in the drums of "Ted, Just admit It" is also more akin to the 80s than 90s killing any future vibe it might have.
On the other hand, there's the incredible "Jane Says" which could sit really well with the early years of 90s alternative. Then the bad ass bass line of "Summertime Roll" feels way more 90s than late 80s.
I do like this album quite a bit, but there is something just holding it back from the four spot.
7.8/10 β
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Β½
4
Jun 17 2025
Transformer
Lou Reed
4
Jun 18 2025
Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus
Spirit
4
Jun 19 2025
Fun House
The Stooges
4
Jun 20 2025
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
This is definitely in my top 100 albums of all time and probably in my top 50. I absolutely adore this album. And to me what some people call throwaways on this album are bits and pieces of his character in writing. Whether being serious or whimsical I think they both show off his brilliance quite satisfyingly.
(10) β
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5
Jun 21 2025
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
This is actually my seventh favorite Springsteen album.
As much as I love Bruce Springsteen's material my ranking of his is rather unconventional. My absolute favorite is the one previous to this, Nebraska, and also my top five are his debut and sophomore albums which are usually not very highly looked upon but I find them absolutely a joy to listen to. This one is still good as always his songwriting is in good form I think it's a bit weighted down by the '80s production. In fact I think a few of the songs feel a bit more upbeat considering the lyrics that contain it, including the first single "Dancing in the Dark". Honestly where this album really shines are the darker "I'm on Fire" and "My Hometown". But to me the crown jewel of this album is the title track and as much as it is misunderstood, I think his actual message is clear and concise. It is neither jingoistic or anti-america. It is just basically looking around and asking himself is this the America I bought into. All in all there are some really great tunes on this album "Cover Me", and "I'm Goin' Down", but it is often muddled with some overly bombastic songs that sound very 80s and very dated.
The less I talk about "Glory Days" the better. 8.4 β
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4
Jun 22 2025
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Honestly, if there a type of hip hop I can at least lean towards it this type, loose and fun. I do like the way this kinda focuses on street life that's not so focused on the hard side, but good times that gets you through the hard times, without going into hippie dippy side of hip hop.
Though still not on my solid wheelhouse, I feel I can return to this, and maybe, possibly it'll grow on me. (7.6) β
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Β½
3
Jun 23 2025
Fever Ray
Fever Ray
I do like this one better than their 2023 album by slight bit. Still, I seem to have the same overall feeling. I really want to like this better than I do I feel like in the right mind it could be at least a solid four-star album. This album to me works best when it almost has that Depeche Mode dark Moody synth-pop feel coupled with almost a Tegan and Sarah like vocals. It seems to be the songs where they manipulate their voice to a lower register that I feel disconnected to the feeling of the song.
I think all in all I do semi enjoy the album but I'm not head over heels over it.
(7.8) β
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Β½
4
Jun 24 2025
Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
5
Jun 25 2025
90
808 State
Honestly I think this album starts off pretty well between "Magical Dream" and "Cobra Bora" (which I noted "The Hustle" sample) overall, I find this being called 90 when it still feel definitely in the feel of late 80s house. Unfortunately, towards the some of the beats get a bit tiresome, most notably in "808080808" and "Sunrise", and "The Fat Shadow" straight up sucked (thank God it's only 59 seconds long)
7.65 β
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Β½
3
Jun 26 2025
Colour By Numbers
Culture Club
I don't remember the last time I heard this out my kind of always put in the back of my mind it's a decent 3Β½β
album. But honestly listening to it this time, I personally think side one is downright excellent and going into" Church of the Poison Mind" this is looking like a solid 4β
. Pretty much after that it just kind of lies there. "Miss Me Blind" is my least favorite of the singles though it's not bad. "Mister Man" I thought was just an awful song. "Victims" is a good closer but it didn't really bring anything more to the table better than what it did on the first side. Truly along with the singles, I really enjoyed "Black Money" and "That's the Way (I'm Only Trying to Help You)". I think they were magnificent songs. The latter actually has the most impassionate performance by Boy George on this album.
I'm going to give it a high 3Β½ only because the second side really didn't live up to the first
(7.9) β
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Β½
4
Jun 27 2025
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
***Sufjan Stevens** invites you to Come on feel the Illinoise* [2005]
I am so tempted to give this five stars but I'm going to keep it at a rather heavy four and a half just to let it sink in... but I fucking love this album. And it is this specific sound which is why his *Songs for Christmas* box set is one of my absolute favorite annual plays. I love his arrangements and I love the way his production of his albums around this time. It sounds Lo-Fi without sounding like dirty garage. Very clean recordings but so little effects on them that the performances speak for themselves. All the way right down to the very last note of the album which is sound of the pedal lifting from the piano. It's in your face and it's real. (9.85) β
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Β½
5
Jun 28 2025
Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
Idk... Some about her artsy fartsy way she just doesn't to it for me. I mean it's not bad, and I have a low level appreciate her work., but ultimately I end up cold.
(6.8) β
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3
Jun 29 2025
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime [1994]
On the very first song I really wanted to hate it, not necessarily by preconception but when it started I just figured this was going to be one of those albums that was a bit too abrasive for me. But I didn't necessarily hate the song. By the second song I actually really decided I like this band and enjoyed the rest of the album even though it's not a straight up go through it was thoroughly entertaining. I hear a lot of people talking about his screaming voice but honestly to me his voice though it doesn't sound like Cobain reminds me of Cobain's more screamy deliveries. And even though this music does not remind me of Nirvana's music necessarily it does remind me of at least in Nirvana spirit of *Bleach* a little bit more loud in your face but still a locked and groove. In fact I really loved some of bass grooves that would pop up every once in awhile. I'm going to start this off at a light 4β
s, but I can actually see it kind of grow on me a bit. (*Bleach* did and my initial rating of that was lower than this)
8.25 β
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4
Jun 30 2025
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds
I like the way that it really kind of straddles the jangle, psych, and upcoming Americana sound.
(8.6) β
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4
Jul 01 2025
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
I'm actually going to raise my review just a smidge to give it a full four. I'm warming up to it a little bit. Still the stand out track to me is still "Bemsha Swing", but I was really diggin' "Ba-Leu Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are" this time around. Still the title track and "Pannonica" were still a bit difficult for me to totally get, but just like last time, I at least respect them quite a bit
(8.1) β
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4
Jul 02 2025
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
This is kind of cool and kind of boring. It kind of reminds me of the stuff that Pink Floyd would do as interludes but for the most part they wouldn't go on for 17 minutes like that without going into either a song or a blues jam at some point. All in all given the right mood I could probably really get into this but it is definitely one of those where I'd have to be in the mood for this kind of like trippy hazy feel. Even at that I would probably more likely pull out something like "Echoes" over this. 7.25 β
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Β½
3
Jul 03 2025
Scum
Napalm Death
New bottom of the heap. (1.00/10) Β½β
π
Quite honestly, at times I wanted to give them a slightly higher rating, especially when they were throwing out some Metallica like riffs. But ultimately between the growling singing, if you want to call it that, and that every time he sang, all they did was bashing drum rolls and fast nonsense guitar. It was not only gawd awful, it was undeniably unlistenable. The fact that that makes up a majority of the album, especially on the latter half, I ended up just pissed off and ready to f'king shoot my speakers
1
Jul 04 2025
The United States Of America
The United States Of America
I actually really liked this a good bit, but not bowled over by it. I think it's influential, in as much as it's still kind of the ground level of electronic music as a means . There's actually no guitars on this album except for the electronic fretless base, which I guess doing the only guitar like sounds in there. I find the canopy rather interesting, even though the songs aren't necessarily there. I hear a good bit Airplane, Floyd, and VU influence, with a touch of the Beatles. But as I said, other than "Hard Come Loving", and to me the very Beatlesque track on here "Stranded In Time", I find the music pretty much lesser versions of pop songs of 66 & 67, yet still quite palatable. I do despise, however, the fact that they ended the album with a musique concrète piece "Love Is All", but at least that predates "Revolution #9" by a good six months or more, and much shorter. All in all, I think Silver Apples would probably be a better example of late 60s electronic music in the late than this.
(7.6) β
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Β½
3
Jul 05 2025
The Bends
Radiohead
Radiohead - *The Bends* however I did like pretty well. I may or may not have an affinity to their more traditional 90's alt sound than most Radiohead fans, but I can tell this the the transitional album to the next few. I liked this slightly better than *Kid A*, but definitely not as much as *In Rainbows*
8.75 β
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4
Jul 06 2025
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
I was actually pleasantly surprised by this album . In fact I was actually expecting a far more mid reaction to it which is my usual Kanye ratings. I do like some of the stuff but as a whole I'm not a fan, even when he wasn't controversial. First thing I think this album starts off and ends absolutely spectacularly "Dark Fantasy" and "Lost in the World"/"Who Will Survive in America", are above and beyond what I expected. I also really enjoyed the first four tracks on the album up to "All the Lights". This album to me works really well when it's pretty much crossing over the hip hop and pop landscapes. Starting with "Monster" through "Devil In A New Dress", along with "Hell of A Life" however it kind of gets into the typical rap that I'm not really drawn to, though I did like the guitar work on "Devil". "Runaway" I also enjoyed quite a bit, especially the last four minutes goes into musical textures I honestly think is brilliant.
If it wasn't for the stretch of songs, which if I were more into rap in general I'd probably dig it, I could see myself going much higher.
(8.4) β
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4
Jul 07 2025
Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
I like this, but is it essential? Not really. Grateful Dead have better psych jams than this... as does Iron Butterfly, and their exquisite 16 min psych jam also on this list. Still though, I do quite enjoy this album. 8.6 β
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4
Jul 08 2025
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
I've always been told to give this album a listen, but for some reason I never have. I absolutely really love this album. And even though it does somewhat suffer from the millennial vocal wispiness that i'm not the biggest fan of, I really found the folk instrumentation just absolutely gorgeous and the harmonies on here are absolutely heaven. I'm going to give it a 4Β½ for now with room to grow.
(9.5) β
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Β½
4
Jul 09 2025
She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
First thing "ALL Through The Night" is my absolute favorite Cyndi Lauper songs and possibly even one of my top 25 to 50 songs of the '80s I just love that track. I love the emotion in her delivery and I love the keyboard stabs in the place of the solo where I would usually want a guitar solo but those stabs just increase the agony of the lyrics. I have no problem with this album pretty much all the way through even after the hits run out on the album I think it's still stands as solid album tracks even though they are not obvious single tracks. "Witness" has a very early Police influence to it, and i got to admit Lauper covering Betty Boop is kind of the cherry on top.
9.6 β
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4
Jul 10 2025
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
9.8.β
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Β½
5
Jul 11 2025
Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
Yeah, this is still my least favorite Police album. I'm not sure why thus is on the list over *Outlandos de Amour*. With the exception of "Message In a Bottle" even the singles are better. (possibly also "Bring On The Night" but I much prefer Sting's 1995 live version over the original). The Copeland songs are the weakest link on the album, and this has more Copeland songs than any other Police album. I do, however, like the Sting/Copeland co-written "It's Alright For You" even though it totally rips the Rhythm from "Too Much Monkey Business" by Chuck Berry
Also, unlike any other police album, less than half, only lives only five songs, were written solely by Sting (with three by Copeland, also two credited to the whole band.)
All in all I've always felt this felt like a hasty follow up to *Outlandos*, even though it did chart higher and is actually more critically acclaimed than their debut.
(8.33) β
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4
Jul 12 2025
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
5
Jul 13 2025
Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
I think I liked this a bit more than most here. It really takes me back to a certain time in my life... Senior year of high school. Even though I wasn't a goth, by any means, I had a few goth friends or as well as a few non goth friends who liked the musical aesthetics. I wasn't much drawn to it back then, but now, probably my first time listening to it in over 35 years, it's like a time tunnel.
I will say this album is very dated, and could have only come out in the mid to late 80s.
I've never inherently dislike this album. But I've never inherently loved it either. But it does bring back good times. So it may shine a little brighter on me today. 7.45 β
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Β½
3
Jul 14 2025
...Baby One More Time
Britney Spears
Let's face it Britney Spears was the female version of The Backstreet Boys. At least that's what I kept hearing throughout this album. I guess what really gets me as far as my appreciation is that I am really just not that into the General sound of the '90s boy band. Maybe with the exception of Hanson but that's another story. Honestly other than the two really big singles, the title track and "(You Drive Me) Crazy", there wasn't really much that I could sink my teeth in to or even really appreciate. "Sometimes" wasn't so bad but nothing I put on by my own free will. And as far as bottom of my own "From The Bottom of My Broken Heart" isn't really my kind of ballad. I think the B side "I'll Never Stop Loving You" was a slightly better ballad. The rest of the album to me was basic '90s pop that I can either take or leave, but mainly leave. I did not, however, like the cover of "The Beat Goes On". They tried to update it, but it just didn't really work for me. 5.4 β
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Β½
2
Jul 15 2025
Black Holes and Revelations
Muse
I really love this album, my favorite of theirs
9.7 β
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4
Jul 16 2025
Thriller
Michael Jackson
5
Jul 17 2025
Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I really enjoyed this album, not quite 4Β½, but I can see it moving up that way. I can also see this becoming one of my halloween time Staples. Not that it's typical Halloween fodder, but it does have a very dark sinister feel to it. I'm wondering if this came up in October I would have easily given it a 4Β½, but I'm going to give it a high 4
(8.8) β
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4
Jul 18 2025
m b v
My Bloody Valentine
*M B V*... I'm sorry, but this is most fuzzy nothingness to me. During it's 45 minute run time I just kept waiting for it to be over. I liked this better than *Isn't Anything* but not by much
(4.6) β
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2
Jul 19 2025
21
Adele
One of top ten albums of the 2010s. This is one of the albums that I feel should they should have never replaced on the main 1001, especially at the hand of the follow up 25. I personally feel her first two albums tower over the two that followed. But, man, her voice evokes heartache, track after track. On this listen I really was getting into the four or five songs that Lightning 100 didn't play the shit out of... "Don't You Remember" and "I'll Be Waiting" particularly stood out
(10) β
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5
Jul 20 2025
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
As always for some reason i never can fully get into this band. I don't think they're bad they are quite good, but I don't think they sound any much different than most of the other Millennial Indie bands. They do kind of sound like a band I should get into more than I do I just don't. I did raise this one up just a tad from when I first heard it first a few years ago, but i think this listen I can boost it to a low 3Β½
3
Jul 21 2025
Brothers
The Black Keys
I was actually surprised because I mentally had this rated higher from back in the 2010s though I have not listened to this album or the follow-up since the early 2010s. I do rather prefer *Rubber Factory*, the only album I own by them. I got into them from their single "10 a.m. Automatic".
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4
Jul 22 2025
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
This, *Apostrophe (')*, and *Over-Night Sensation* have historically been the only Frank Zappa studio albums I've really enjoyed thoroughly. All at solid 4Β½ star ratings. This one is probably my favorite and I think it is probably because it is mostly instrumental. His lyrics get really silly. I appreciate them but I'm at a slight arm's length at them, but I don't think that they're bad at all. In fact there are songs on both *Apostrophe (')*and *Overnight Sensation* that I can see where *Weird Al* gets his influence. But still it's lo e reading a comic book for insight.
I do need to get this on LP because it is honestly just a great jam all the way through. Whether it is bizarro psychedelic to its Jazz/Rock fueled moments, I find myself eating this up.(9.55) β
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4
Jul 23 2025
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
This is an album that has been with me all of my life. In fact my father's mono copy now adorns my collection. I can remember loving this album as far back as four years old.
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for me. Honestly one of might even be in my top ten country albums of all time for me... top 25 for sure.
5
Jul 24 2025
Chelsea Girl
Nico
Though I really enjoyed most of this album there is a bit of saminess that kind of keeps it from being really high in my book. But at its best it's like an album version of "Ruby Tuesday" I think the strings were a bit high in the mix too for me but I caught glimpse of a mono mix that may have had it a little bit more in sync so I may have to try that version. Her voice isn't really what I like but what I but I think it's effective.
8.33 β
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4
Jul 25 2025
Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
I liked this more than I thought I would, parts sound like proto soft jazz, but when the solos liked in the player really cook. "Inner Crisis" however was my favorite track which has a nice dirty funk jazz feel to it. It does go on a bit long for me and especially "Blues For Heuy" i started feeling some disconnection to the album . But for the most part I really enjoyed it and probably some room to grow .
(8.1) β
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4
Jul 26 2025
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Great collection of songs, strangely cohesive despite being recorded over three years. (At least in early 60s terms.) I absolutely love his style does remind me a bit of early James Brown before he was the Godfather of Funk. But Brurke really does have his own stamp as well... Solid 60s soul album
9.1 β
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4
Jul 27 2025
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
5
Jul 28 2025
Electric Prunes
The Electric Prunes
I was really expecting to like this one a lot more being the huge psych fan that I am. Quite frankly, this album is bolstered by three really well done psych pieces, "Too Much To Dream", "Sold To The Higest Bidder", and "Get Me To The World On Time", none of which were written by the band, and one great '60s folk pop piece, "Train For Tomorrow" which was written by the band. Most of the rest was basically bland 60s pseudo-psych pop, and two absolutely horrendous songs "Oney" and the closing track, "Toonsville Trolly".
Overall not a bad lesson but not a great album as a whole. If it wasn't for the few psych songs that came out just as psych was becoming into its own I really couldn't see this being that important of an album
7.1 β
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3
Jul 29 2025
OK Computer
Radiohead
Really freakin liked this one, even slightly better than *In Rainbows*, definitely my favorite Rh album I've heard. Unless I ever listen to *King of Limbs* and it bowls me over, it should stay that way.
9.4 β
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4
Jul 30 2025
Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
Absolutely incredible performances, even though most of it was a studio performance with crowd noises dubbed in. But I truly dig this kind of swing.
9.8 β
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5
Jul 31 2025
White Ladder
David Gray
David Gray, not as good as I remembered (I seem to think I had as a four and enjoying it as quite a bit) it starts and ends really well but there is like a three song stretch, really felt dreary... But Babylon and Sail Away are tops for me still
7.65 β
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3
Aug 01 2025
Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Well my thoughts about this Ramblin' Jack Elliott are so complex.... First of all i have a huge problem on calling this an album rather than a collection of recordings he did over a period of time and some of them don't even sound like they are traditional Studio recordings . It doesn't sound like this is an album as in a statement of time and place. This begs the question why is there no robert Johnson or Elmore James albums which have such similar recording styles as this and have just as much, and some might say even more, influence in this head on music forward. (I put them on equivalent levels).
That being said I also really do love albums like this historically. And it's something I actually enjoy listening to a bit because it reminds me of where music started. Just a man and an instrument and a feeling in his heart.
When I was living in Memphis I was around a lot of singer-songwriters and though I did not hear a lot of ramblin' Jack Elliott , he was very well respected amongst my friends. And listen to this I can see why it is very similar in the vein of some of the acts that I really loved watching live including Todd Snider who was up and coming at the time I was watching him in Memphis.
Even though I really like listening to this a lot ,I don't see it as a 4Β½,star album mainly because it lacks any cohesiveness. But, I think it does reach me enough as a collection of songs to give it a decent 4
8.6 β
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4
Aug 02 2025
Horses
Patti Smith
"Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine"
Not only is that a hell of a line to open up an album but to also open up an entire career, WOW!
Is there such thing as proto-postpunk? I must say, wish I had heard this album earlier in my life. I really only knew Patti Smith from "Gloria" and "Because The Night". Though a lot of the things I was reading about her as precursor to the American Punk scene, I see most of her influence more on the backside of punk as it morphed into post Punk, specifically some of the more punkier sides of Blondie. But I can also see her influence on the likes of PJ Harvey and later on Liz Phair. I've always thought that her voice was not something I would really get into , but as I went through this album the Darkness the haunting this really grabbed me and appreciate her approach. Honestly the only song I really had noted is not really liking that much was the closer but it works really well as a closer so I'm starting this off with a strong 4ΒΌβ
but I think it could go higher up on further lessons
9.53 β
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4
Aug 03 2025
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Still not sold on Elvis Costello, but I did like this one
Quite frankly my favorite song on the album was the track added to the US version, and it wasn't even written by him
(7.63) β
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3
Aug 04 2025
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
I've never been sold on Megadeth, and listening to this, I casn see why Metallica leads the pack of the big four of trash in popularity and that they are the only one that really has a melodic approach to their vocals. I know some would say that's what makes Metallica thrash light, I'm just saying it's what makes them more approachable.
My probrme with Mustane's vocals is that spoken cackle delivery he uses on the opening few tracks, I hate them. But he drop that after a few songs. And I do find the later half tolerable, but I but nothing aces over the Metallica at the time. I will note really liking "Devil's Island" and "Bad Omen" but really not much else.
6.25 β
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3
Aug 05 2025
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
5
Aug 06 2025
Maverick A Strike
Finley Quaye
Back in high school my friends and I used to kind of romanticize British popular music as better than the US. The more I delve into Robert Dimery's book, the more I'm finding that's a load of bollocks. And this is a prime example. I can see why this was not double platinum in the US, I cannot see why it went that far in the UK. Nothing groundbreaking and safe as milk. This album at its best is cliche 90s pop reggae. At its worst it is no better than run of the mill adult contemporary of the time. The only song on this album that I even remotely liked was "Your Love Gets Sweeter, which in itself sounds like it could be used in an ad for a Caribbean vacation, but at least it was catching enjoyable. Honestly, the rest of this album I can completely do without. I definitely don't consider this a must listen.
(4.6) β
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2
Aug 07 2025
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
I'm having a hard time nailing this one down. On one hand the melodies tend to bore me a good bit, but when it gets spacey and crunchy, I fucking love it.. I'm gonna slide to a light 4 for now only because the crunchy side is winning my affection
(8.15) β
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4
Aug 08 2025
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
This is a classic case of great artist good album, but, with only one entry, it's the wrong album. Damn The Torpedos not only showed the band coming into its own, but it was the album that cemented Tom Petty as a major figure in rock history. The self-titled is a stellar debut, but I think only hints at the greatness to come. This could have been sequence better. I think "Strangered in the Night" would have been a better opener for the album, and kept the rest of side one the same. Then open the second side with "Fooled Again (I Don't Like It)" followed by "American Girl" and bury the other three at the end of side 2.
(8.6)β
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Tom's solo Wildflowers should have been on the list but it also got snubbed
4
Aug 09 2025
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
This is one album that's really gone down in my ratings over the years. This album copy is my dad's so I've actually been listening to this as long as I can remember. I would have given it a full five stars back then. But when I finally first heard the Folsom Prison album I realized that that was a good head over this one and though I still absolutely loved this album it just was no longer a fiver for me after listening to Folsom Prison.
Then when Columbia released the full San Quentin concert in 2006, that became my main version to listen, and has pretty much been the (9.6) 4Β½β
rating I've held for many years.
This is probably the first time I've listened to the Lp version probably in 20 years and even though I still love it quite a bit some of the janky fade editing does kind of get in the way. But I guess what really stands out is that quite frankly there's really only five songs that kind of stand out as far as the performance, "Wanted Man", "Wreck of the Old '97", "Starksville City Jail", "San Quentin", and "A Boy Named Sue". The other four aren't really my favorite live renditions... And the ultra cut down version of Folsom Prison is downright heresy. Though it still brings back fond memories and for that it's always going to get a pretty high rating I just can't even give it the four and a half that I used to
(8.85) β
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4
Aug 10 2025
Group Sex
Circle Jerks
7.7 β
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3
Aug 11 2025
Talk Talk Talk
The Psychedelic Furs
Honestly, The Psychedelic Firs have never been a band I've really could sink my teeth into. Something about Richard Butler's delivery I've always found kind of droney and boring. Something that struck me while I was listening to this album is tHat a lot of their verses to me kind of sounded the same. I don't know if it's just is cadence or that it really is kind of just lack of variety in the verses but half the songs I could tell they were different only by the chorus.
This may be heresy, but I do prefer the '86 we recorded version of "Pretty in Pink" used in the movie, sounds fuller to me. But to me the best song on the album was "It Goes On" which didn't suffer from sounding the same. I actually quite enjoyed that one.
There's nothing I inherently hate about this album, and it's in a general genre and sound that I do appreciate. I just don't find it all that gripping for whatever reason.
(7.2) β
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3
Aug 12 2025
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
*The Chronic*
Belive it or not I decided to listen to the album again just to be more percice in my criticism. First of all I like the way this album starts off. Honestly there is a certain playfulness to the delivery... Especially Snoop. I could done without the Deez Nuts skit with a joke I commonly attribute to Andrew Dice Clay and I can't stand his comedy.
Starting with "Lil Ghetto Boy" it gets more closer to the gangster rap I really have a hard time with. Hyper violent hyper hateful...with out dissing the art it fills me with hate and I don't like feeling that. Maybe it's supposed to end I can respect it for that but as a form of entertainment it is nothing I enjoy experiencing.
"$20 sack Pyramid" and "The Doctors office" I'm sorry but those skits just sucks!
The only highlight I have for the latter β
of the albums is "The Roach" which brings back the laid back grove of the first third that I did like.
I can't stand the closing ultra misogynistic track, and as popular that one seems to be with the Gen Xers... I don't get it... It's just downright disparaging in my ears.
I'm again very conflicted on where to rate this. Mainly because I can do without listening to this album again. A few songs from five tracks and "The Roach" I do like, but that's about it.
I do recognize its place on this list, but if I'm going to be real about my feelings.
(5.25) β
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2
Aug 13 2025
Back to Basics
Christina Aguilera
I want to start out this review with what I disliked most about the album which quite honestly is the promotion. For being promoted as her throwback to 40s and 50s Jazz and Blues it seems to only apply to the first five songs on the second disc. The entire first disc sounds like the logical follow-up the *Stripped*, although as far as I'm concerned a few years too late as I think it reminds me more of late 90s early 2000s pop R&B. The only hints at it trying to be a throwback album is some of the backing tracks or maybe samples hinted at it even though the beats were obviously modern. The song where all she does is name drop old R&B artist, "Back in the Day" kind of made me roll my eyes only because the song sounded nothing like the artist she was mentioned. I even burst out laughing at the Jimmy Castor sample that opens the track. I'm like 90% sure that most of Christina's fans had never heard "Troglodyte (Caveman)". All in all not a bad set of songs the worst part about it was the 5-minute Thank You song to all her fans which I guess is nice for what it was but went on way too long and board the crap out of me. ||I had to change my underwear||.
Then you get to the second disc, which the first five songs actually sound like the project she was promoting . Unfortunately it comes off very much more like aural cosplay than it does anything authentic. I think having Linda Perry on that particular portion at least helped it to get close to the sound they were wanting because it seems like Linda understood the intent more than the pop/hip hop producers that were producing the first disc. But then you get to the second half of the second disc and it turns into the typical Linda Perry writes songs for American Idol singers. Which is fine. I'm not as burnt in them as most. But it's not anything I gravitate to... and I do like "Hurt", fwiw.
Honestly I did not dislike this album at all I can't say I loved it appreciate it is probably more where I'm at but i neither find it essential in any sense of the matter. I would honestly say if they were going to have a Aguilera album on there it probably would be *Stripped* or the debut, but quite honestly there's really not much on this album that really makes it stand out except for what it was promoted for which takes up less than a quarter of the album
(6.7) β
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3
Aug 14 2025
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
This album is mostly screamy and infantile. Other than "FFYRTP" & "NSTB" which I think I more retroactively like than I did at the time, this album just gave me a headache
4.6 β
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2
Aug 15 2025
Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
*Penance Soiree*
Starting from the opening track I thought I was actually going to like this album. Starting from the second track I realized I am going to hate this album. Honestly this was really a mixed bag of songs that I liked "Up Against the Wall Motherfucker", "Spike Island", and "Getting Bright At Night" a bunch of generic 2K aughts rock "On the Lash", "Virgin Velcro", "Party the Bsby Off", and utter crapfest... Pretty much the rest of the album.
The Crapfest won the overall rating for me. (4.4) β
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2
Aug 16 2025
Parachutes
Coldplay
My third favorite Coldplay album after Rush of Blood and Viva La Vida both of which I have at five stars. So there are quite a few songs on here that keep this at a 4.5, there are a few tracks that keep it from a fiver for me.
9.67 β
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4
Aug 17 2025
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
I actually raised this up by a good half star from my traditional ratings. My usual problem with Bruce Springsteen's normally high ranked albums tend to be his ode to Spector production. Quite frankly there's really only two songs that really lean heavily into that sound on this album and they happen to be the opening tracks on each side. I do find this one a lot more engaging and grittier than its immediate predecessor and subsequent album. In fact "Adam raised A Cane" sounds almost down right mean . "Streets of Fire" another one that really caught my ear this time. Though *Born in the USA* landed about where my traditional rating for that album, I'll be interested to see where *Born to Run* lands this time around. *Nebraska* has been my traditional favorite album of his, and *The Rising* being my #2. Though I don't see this rising above *Nebraska* in my ears, it might rival *The Rising* which I also have at a mid four and a half
9.6 β
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4
Aug 18 2025
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
There is some ethos of punk I that I feel deliberately shoots itself in the foot. And that is the DIY no-fi sound. And it makes it even hard if it sounds like they're doing it on purpose, because this is recored and mixed like somebody's first day on the job. That snare sound is so unnecessarily boxy and way up in the mix, that it sounds like they found some random guy walking down the hall to come in and record the damn thing.
Granted I don't think musically I would actually care for this that much either. I don't like his singing, but that does have a punky snarl that I can kind of see what they were trying to do and why some people would like it. But the sound of this album was just fucking atrocious... even for punk standards.
4.4 β
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2
Aug 19 2025
Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg β Doggystyle [1993]
This is going to sound like a review from an old coot but here it goes. If I had heard this album when I was still in high school I probably would giggled and laughed and loved it. By the time this came out lyrics like this kind of made my eyes roll. And now hearing the album for the first time in hole at age 56 it almost makes me wonder how this album stand stood the test of time considering how misogynistic it is how Pro violent it is (busting cap in someone for saying whatsup too much). Literally this album has very little remorse whatsoever.
That being said i do like his laid-back style of rapping. I think with it not being so forceful and hateful i can at least enjoy the groove.
And this is where i get the conflict on the message alone I really want to throw it in the sub 2star dumpster. But the music in the groove is pleasant enough to say it's not that bad, some 3Β½ material, but overall high 3.
All in all i think the message kind of wins out but I'm not going to throw it in the dumpster.
(5.45) β
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2
Aug 20 2025
Dig Your Own Hole
The Chemical Brothers
Second album by them that I was surprised how much I really enjoyed this album. I have *Exit Planet Dust* just slightly ahead of this one, i think mainly because it's a lot fuzzier and dirtier. But this one definitely has its merits and in some cases even better than their debut. This album starts off really strong first couple of songs are just fantastic, it does sag a little in the middle for me but it ends quite frankly on two of my favorite songs of the whole project. "Where Do I Begin" with Beth Orton, is my favorite track on the whole album and quite frankly Beth's best bit outside of "Best Bits". And the closer OMG! "The Private Psychedelic Reel" it's such a tour de force of what The Chemical Brothers do best. Still slightly favor "Where Do I Begin", but this track is right up there with it.
(8.77) β
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4
Aug 21 2025
Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
My favorite album of the 21st Century. I absolutely adore this album!
10 β
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5
Aug 22 2025
Talking With the Taxman About Poetry
Billy Bragg
Honestly I can see myself going higher on this one. I really like this album especially when it gets overtly political which it does quite a bit, in fact most of it. I don't know if anyone else heard it but when I listened to "Ideology" it almost sounds like a clear homage to "Chimes of Freedom" musically, but I'm pretty sure given the subject matter Dylan wouldn't mind. Definitely need to come around to this at some point but I'm going to give this one a high mid four... But given my affinity for a well-written protest song this might actually grow on me in time.
(8.7) β
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4
Aug 23 2025
After The Gold Rush
Neil Young
5
Aug 24 2025
Rising Above Bedlam
Jah Wobble's Invaders Of The Heart
I definitely did not dislike this like most the people in the group. My biggest gripe, if you will, is that it has that very early 90s digital sterile cleanness to it. But quite honestly musically I don't think there's anything on here I disliked. But there was also nothing on here that I absolutely loved. My favorite track was the opener, "Visions of You", with Sinead O'Connor which kind of gives me a vibe of what Enigma would do with "Return to Innocence", without the native American chanting of course. But most of this is fine. I kind of liked it kind of exotic coffee shop way, but it is also nothing I I'm compelled to revisit. Though if it was playing for me, I'd probably enjoy it as background music. No this is not terribly exciting, but I honestly don't think it's that bad.
6.7 β
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3
Aug 25 2025
Cafe Bleu
The Style Council
Definitely the tale of two sides. I actually really liked the soft sophistopop jazz leanings of the first side. I especially liked the US hit, and the title track of the US version of this album, "My Ever Changing Moods".
The second side however was more of a mixed bag. It starts off totally on the wrong foot with the absolute worst songs of the album. There's a better pop Fair as the rest of the side moves along. And ends pretty well with "Headstart for Happiness", and the jaunty instrumental "Council Meeting" i do kind of wish the additional US track was on there "A Solid Bond in Your Heart" (a UK non album single) which would not only be a side to highlight if it were there, but probably be the second best track on the album after "Moods"
If the album had stayed in the vein of side one I probably would have gone with a solid four, but I think the second side really doesn't do as much for me to keep it at that high of a rating
7.6 β
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3
Aug 26 2025
Bad
Michael Jackson
I wanted to say something pithy like, *Bad* was Michael Jackson's last good album... Truth is I probably have *Dangerous* at a low 4, *Blood on the Dance Floor* (which is half remix half new material) at a mid 3Β½, and even *Invincible* at a slight 3Β½ or high 3... The only real falter I have during his Epic run is the CD of new stuff that it's included with HIStory part 1 (which even about a third of that I do kind of like)
But as for this album I still find that most of 9 singles (including "Leave Me Alone") I still really enjoy listening to, even like the title track. Is Michael Jackson acting like a badass is a little bit too much to take? Yes, I made fun of it back then too. But I always liked the song. The only single I didn't like was "Liberian Girl", and that one was not released in the US. "Man in the Mirror", although I would not put that my upper echelon of Michael Jackson tunes, it's still a far cry better than some of the schmaltzy crappy stuff he would put out later such as "Childhood" and "Earth Song" or even "We Are The World" a few years earlier.
I think one thing that does make this album suffer is that unlike *Off the Wall or *Thriller* which each had a song or two that were kind of buried which didn't live up to the rest, this one puts them all right in the row right at the end of side one. "Speed Demon", "Liberian Girl", and "Just Good Friends". The good thing about this album is that it ends with two of best songs of the album, including "Dirty Diana" which features a guitar work of Billy Idol's guitarist Steve Stevens, the best song on the album.
Overall this is still a pretty great listen even though it doesn't anywhere come near the highs of the previous two
(8.67) β
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4
Aug 27 2025
Live At Leeds
The Who
I gave a listen to the original LP version on YouTube this morning as not only a refresher but just to hear it and it's original intent.
I do prefer the longer version only because it feels more like a full show even though it's still missing the Tommy segment of the lead show. (That also was subsequently released on the Leeds box set). But it's still hard to deny the energy of the set I'm actually still not going to give it a full but I will up at to a 9.8 this listen. I quite honestly needed the energy burst this morning
9.8 β
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Β½ (five on the app)
5
Aug 28 2025
Amnesiac
Radiohead
When I first started *Amnesiac*, I thought it was pretty much one of those albums that separates the real fans from the bandwagon fans. This is truly an album only an uber-Radiohead fan can love.
But after reading the history of it I honestly believe that this is more of an album of what was left of the *Kid A* sessions. It feels like they released the more accessible material on that album, and left the more experimental tracks on this one.
There are a few nuggets so the accessible line, like my favorite track "Dollars and Cents", as well as "I Might be Wrong" and "Knives Out" which I also liked. Most of this album, though, reminds me of what people say when they call them too bloopy. I did not dislike all of the experimental tracks on the album. One that really stood out to me was "Hunting Bears" with the guitar playing around the white noise swish.
Still, all in all I think I found more material that I either didn't appreciate or didn't like.... but it has its moments
(6.8) β
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3
Aug 29 2025
Savane
Ali Farka TourΓ©
Most of the first half of the album I really got into when it was truly a cross between blues and African music. It reminded me of what I really liked about the Songhoy Blues album. But as the album went on I found it sounding more like generic World music fare. Though it was still it was still pretty good, it didn't strike me as outstanding. I did like this album but I think I like the Songhoy Blues album a lot more.
7.33 β
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3
Aug 30 2025
Hard Again
Muddy Waters
This is definitely one of those albums where if I was exposed to it earlier in life I probably would have loved it a lot more.
But my many years in Memphis and seeing a lot of bar bands do this kind of Blues ad nauseam, has really softened my appreciation for electric blues.
That being said this is a fine example of it and much early on then the kind of rote blues I was exposed to in the 90s. Still I don't think he was Reinventing the wheel as much as carving another notch in his legacy on this album. It's a good album, actually a really good album, but I think his Chess material over shadows this album by a good margin.
(8.4) β
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4
Aug 31 2025
World Clique
Deee-Lite
I still really like this album, it makes me happy, for some unknown reason. But there is something about this early 90s house pop that I always found a bit appealing. C+C Music Factory would be another contemporary example. But there are a number of tracks I still really dig a good bit, "Groove" of course, "Who Was That?", and "Good Beat". I even liked the opener which I never heard until today since it was omitted from the vinyl Lp. Not so much great song but great intro to the album.
There are a few slogs that keep this from a four, mainly at the end of side one. But overall this is Deee-Lite-ful enough
(7.55) β
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3
Sep 05 2025
Heartbreaker
Ryan Adams
Ngl... His first three albums are favorites of mine... Along with *Cold Roses*, *Easy Tiger*, and the 2014 eponymous. Another one where I have to separate there art from the artist.
9.8 β
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5