Oct 15 2024
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Clean production/recording/mix (not my preference for reggae) but sounds very good regardless. Al Anderson, Aston Barrett & Carlton Barrett give great performances. Studio version of "No Woman No Cry" is underrated. "Bend Down Low"...I can't put my finger on what I dislike about this song. Strong cover art, very striking.
Favorites: "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)", "So Jah S'eh"
Least Favorites: "Bend Down Low"
Not my personal favorite Bob Marley release, but overall good album.
(x2)
4 Stars, B
4
Oct 16 2024
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
I'm familiar with most of the "big" songs, this is the first time listening to this full album. Nothing grabbing me positive or negative.
Interesting things learned while listening/reading about: Clover was the backing band here. John McFee (late stage Doobies) was a member of Clover & plays lead guitar.
Neat cover, iconic image of Elvis here.
Favorites: "Welcome to the Working Week"
Least Favorites: "Mystery Dance"
(2x)
3 Stars
4
Oct 17 2024
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
Very familiar with about 1/2 of this album.
Interesting discoveries: Basic tracks recorded in Tina & Chris' apartment w/ cables through the windows. Robert Fripp plays guitar on a couple tracks.
Favorites: "I Zimbra", "Cities", "Life During Wartime"
Least Favorites: "Animals"
(x2, many times previously)
4 Stars, B+/A-
4
Oct 18 2024
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
I'm familiar with the hits, will be the first time listening to full album. The climax in "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is chill inducing.
Favorites: "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)", "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright", "The Only Living Boy in New York"
Least Favorites: "Baby Driver"
(x1)
3 Stars, B
3
Oct 21 2024
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
Never heard any of Janis' solo material & only I'm only familiar with a few Big Brother & the Holding Co songs. I may have heard "Me and Bobby McGee" but wasn't intentionally listening. I'm really enjoying this! Her voice is incredible, lives up to the hype in every way.
Favorites: "Half Moon", "Move Over"
(3x)
5 stars, A+
5
Oct 22 2024
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Eliminator
ZZ Top
CHEESY BEYOND ALL CHEESE! Still though, the blues-rock/new wave hybrid has its' charms. I'm already very familiar with all the hits. There aren't any other songs that stand out as different or an improvement on the hit songs. They found a new formula and went all in on 11 tracks of it. By the time track 10 started I was praying for this to be done.
Learned while Listening: This is the manufactured "image" era of the band. Manager was hiding the fact they were using tape-recorded backing tracks on stage, Billy Gibbons & Linden Hudson created a majority of the album w/o Beard/Hill input...etc. Gotta have 120 BPMs for hits! (And it WORKED! LOL)
Favs: N/A
Least: "I Got the Six"
(1x)
2 Stars, C-
2
Oct 23 2024
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
Finally! Something both that I haven't heard at all before & was released in the 2000s (still 24 years ago as of this writing but I'll take whatever "current" music I can get with this).
Favs: "Lovely Head", "Utopia"
Least:
(1x)
A, 4 stars
4
Oct 24 2024
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Music Has The Right To Children
Boards of Canada
Enjoying this one. Have not heard any songs from this album or band before.
(1x)
3 Stars, B
3
Oct 25 2024
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Vulnicura
Björk
Excited to hear my first full length Björk album. Very atmospheric & beautiful sounding. Musical score like string arrangements. I can appreciate the artistry, but for some reason don't feel like I would come back to this album again. Sorry to give this one a 3 would be a 3 1/2 if possible.
(1x)
3 1/2 stars, B+
3
Oct 28 2024
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KIWANUKA
Michael Kiwanuka
Enjoyable retro style. Smooth voice, some interesting layers.
Favorites: "I've Been Dazed"
Least:
(1x)
3 1/2 stars, B+
3
Oct 29 2024
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
2
Oct 30 2024
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
I would give this 1 star but I know Kid Rock Devil Without a Cause is on this list and this Pogues album isn't as bad as that. So a begrudging 2 stars here. I do not like irish folk/sea shanty style. Sounds like bad SpongeBob music.
2
Oct 31 2024
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
4
Nov 01 2024
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Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
3
Nov 04 2024
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Revisiting this after many listens as child/teen. John Paul Jones & John Bonham (Squeak King pedal appearance!) are the only reasons I'd ever enjoy Led Zeppelin these days. They both sound good here as usual. They are moving towards the Led Zep "Folk" style on 1/2 the tracks which is not my preference for them.
3
Nov 05 2024
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Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire)
The Kinks
4
Nov 06 2024
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2
Nov 07 2024
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Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
2
Nov 11 2024
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Ellington at Newport
Duke Ellington
4
Nov 12 2024
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Brothers
The Black Keys
2
Nov 14 2024
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Porcupine
Echo And The Bunnymen
3
Nov 18 2024
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Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
5
Nov 19 2024
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Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
4
Nov 21 2024
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L.A. Woman
The Doors
4
Nov 22 2024
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Crooked Rain Crooked Rain
Pavement
3
Nov 25 2024
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
3
Nov 26 2024
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Fever To Tell
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5
Nov 27 2024
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Follow The Leader
Korn
4
Nov 28 2024
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Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
4
Dec 03 2024
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
4
Dec 09 2024
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
4
Dec 16 2024
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
4
Dec 17 2024
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
3
Dec 18 2024
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Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
5
Dec 20 2024
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Gris Gris
Dr. John
4