Oct 16 2024
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
It's just not for me. Most of the songs sound very similar. I also found myself wondering how young he was when he made this. The lyrics all sound like they were written by a 60 year old world-weary person. Was he just continuing a folk tradition and lifting lines and phrases from what came before? I have no idea, and I'm sure many enjoy it, but it's not my bag, man.
2
Oct 17 2024
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The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
I hope you like piano, cause that's all you're getting. As a non jazz piano aficionado this bored me a bit. It felt like something they'd be playing in a hotel lobby.
2
Oct 18 2024
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
This is just very good. It's hard to imagine anyone not liking this.
5
Oct 20 2024
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
This is a classic for me. I bought it the day it was released and have listened to it off and on for the past 30 years. It will always trigger a sense memory of a certain time of my life, I was listening to it so much. Love it.
5
Oct 21 2024
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Teen Dream
Beach House
This was fine, but didn't seem special to me. Nothing hooked me. It was fine mood music, to have on while you're doing other stuff, but I don't think anything about this will have me coming back.
3
Oct 22 2024
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War
U2
This isn't my favorite U2 album (I prefer Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby), but it's still really good. It has a couple of very recognizable singles that hold up very well to this day.
4
Oct 23 2024
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If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
This was nice. I already like Crosby, Stills & Nash, so was kind of predisposed to like this one too. It has a very similar vibe to that group. No song especially stuck out to me, but I'll likely listen to the whole thing again some day.
4
Oct 24 2024
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Cut
The Slits
Before listening I was pretty worried I was going to hate this. Glad to say I was wrong. I don't necessarily love it either, but it's kind of catchy. It sort of reminds me of really early Police, if they were girls and recording in a garage. Also, the singer's style reminded me of Bjork a few times during the listen.
3
Oct 25 2024
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Deserter's Songs
Mercury Rev
It's very hard not to hear the Flaming Lips while listening to this. They have a similar sound, but maybe a tiny bit less weird and a pinch more dreamy. I will listen to this again.
4
Oct 26 2024
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
I like to think that, if I was a teenager when this came out, that I'd have been cool enough to be into it. In reality, I'd probably have been listening to the Monkees or the Archies or something. That being said, cool doesn't necessarily mean fun to listen to. There are definitely some good songs on here (Heroin, Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting for the Man), but many kind of droned on a bit too much for me.
3
Oct 27 2024
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
Are you looking for a background album for when you want to have groovy conversations with your friends in your shag-carpeted sunken living room, while sitting on avocado-colored couches surrounded by paisley wallpaper? Well have I got the album for you!
3
Oct 28 2024
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There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
I like Curtis Mayfield. I think he has some great songs (Pusherman, Superfly). This album was fine, but it didn't really grab me. Nothing stood out especially, but it sounded pleasant as background.
3
Oct 29 2024
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The Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden
I'm actually an Iron Maiden fan, but I feel like they hadn't really found themselves yet with this one. I prefer the mid and late 80's albums where they were more polished.
3
Oct 30 2024
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Yep, I've done the research and this is definitely jazz. I don't even know what to say here. It's fine, I guess. It's not unpleasant.
3
Oct 31 2024
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Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
I ended up listening to this one twice. My wife is an Elvis Costello fan, but didn't know this record so wanted to listen to it after I did. It didn't do much for me the first time, but really started to grow on me the second listen. The songs weren't super catchy the first time through, but I found myself really enjoying them more with repeated listening. I guess I'm saying this one will grow on you. Especially if you already like Elvis Costello.
4
Nov 02 2024
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
I'm not even sure what this was, but I liked it.
4
Nov 03 2024
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Your Arsenal
Morrissey
I liked this fine. It's not quite The Smiths, but obviously has that vibe. I'm ignoring Morrissey's personality and just judging the album.
4
Nov 04 2024
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Great album. Except for the confusing first track "EXP". At first I thought maybe I was listening to the wrong thing.
4
Nov 05 2024
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
I liked this just fine. It was a little dull at times. I suspect that if I'd discovered this when I was younger that it would have been an important album in my life.
4
Nov 06 2024
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Disintegration
The Cure
Such a great album. Is there a better gloomy, rainy day album to listen to? If there is, I don't know it.
5
Nov 07 2024
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Among The Living
Anthrax
Oh boy, this one is embarrassing. I used to like this album in high school, but haven't heard it in many years. It is so bad. The music is simplistic and the lyrics are cringeworthy. And how many songs based on Stephen King stories do you need on an album? Their answer is "more than one", apparently. I'm not giving this a "1" for a couple reasons. One is nostalgia, and the other is that this isn't actually unlistenable. I was cringing, but I was never totally hating what was playing. I'm saving the ones for way worse albums.
2
Nov 08 2024
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
It wasn't that this was awful, because it's not. It's definitely music. It's just pretty much a 45 minute jam session, which I'm not really into. If you are into stuff like the Grateful Dead and Phish you might like this a lot more than I did.
2
Nov 09 2024
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
An album of covers (I think... I didn't recognize a few). It's so simple, yet so beautiful. You certainly don't need to be a fan of country to appreciate this album.
4
Nov 10 2024
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Hypnotised
The Undertones
This was a fun little piece of pop/punk. I don't see myself seeking it out in the future, though. I wouldn't mind listening to it if it came on, but that's about it.
3
Nov 11 2024
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American Pie
Don McLean
It was fine. A little dull after the title song. The starry starry night song was pleasant, though.
3
Nov 12 2024
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Power In Numbers
Jurassic 5
I'm not that into hip-hop, but if I were it would be this.
4
Nov 13 2024
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Pieces Of The Sky
Emmylou Harris
I get why some people may like it, but this is not for me.
2
Nov 14 2024
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Everything Must Go
Manic Street Preachers
This was very 90s. Crunchy guitars and a guy yelling lyrics. It was okay. Not great or bad. I probably won't listen to it again.
3
Nov 15 2024
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
If you've ever listened to a 60's playlist you probably already know half these songs already. But if you don't like the blues you probably won't love them. I don't love the blues. It's okay.
3
Nov 16 2024
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
3
Nov 17 2024
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The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
2
Nov 18 2024
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The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
This is a little too raw for me. I like Siouxsie, but this is closer to punk that what I know of her and her band.
2
Nov 19 2024
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Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode
5
Nov 20 2024
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
It wasn't bad, really. As a jazz novice (at best) I don't know much about the genre, but it sounded nice.
3
Nov 21 2024
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Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
4
Nov 22 2024
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American Beauty
Grateful Dead
My understanding is that you have to see them live to really understand. That makes sense, because this was kind of boring. The last song, "Truckin'", was fun though.
3
Nov 23 2024
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Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
It was good. I liked it. After hearing it 1000 times, though, I have to say "Fast Car" is still the highlight of the album.
4
Nov 24 2024
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
4
Nov 25 2024
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
There's a couple of iconic songs on here (Monday, Monday... California Dreamin'), but otherwise I found the album pretty forgettable. Not bad, but I won't seek it out again.
3
Nov 26 2024
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Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
4
Nov 27 2024
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The Modern Lovers
The Modern Lovers
This was fine. It sounded very raw. It reminded me a little bit of The Ramones, and a LOT of the Strokes. Or I guess I should say now that The Strokes sound like these guys.
3
Nov 28 2024
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
About half these songs were amazing, and the other half were just good. That's not quite enough to get a 5 from me, but it was close. Great album!
4
Nov 29 2024
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Blue
Joni Mitchell
It was okay. It's very mellow, very simple. It's not really my thing, but I can appreciate the artistry.
3
Nov 30 2024
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
5
Dec 01 2024
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Nothing's Shocking
Jane's Addiction
5
Dec 02 2024
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Why is this album so long?!? I started it on Sunday afternoon. Now it's Monday and it's still playing. Have I even finished a single track? Is there any rhyme or reason to anything? I don't even know where I am anymore. Is that a dwarf standing in the corner? Am I trapped in the album? Is this Hell?
But also it's got a beat I can dance to. Two stars.
2
Dec 03 2024
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
I'm not that into Jazz. That being said, this album is cool as hell.
5
Dec 04 2024
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Life's Too Good
The Sugarcubes
I really liked this! That being said, I don't think it would have sounded special if it wasn't for Bjork's presence. Her voice elevates this from standard jangly indie rock to something totally different.
4
Dec 05 2024
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Dance Mania
Tito Puente
This was nice, but I can't imagine seeking it out again. I bet it's cool listening to this music in a club (like Ricky Ricardo's), but just having it on while I sat on the couch was sorta weird.
3
Dec 06 2024
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Shaft
Isaac Hayes
3
Dec 07 2024
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
I can't even be objective about this one. I've probably literally heard it 1000 times. One of my all time favorites. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out never gets old no matter how many times I've heard it.
5
Dec 08 2024
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Devotional Songs
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
I'll just leave it as "not for me". I can appreciate the talent, but it was not my thing.
2
Dec 09 2024
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Pretenders
Pretenders
4
Dec 10 2024
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Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
There are some songs on this album (albums?) that I really, really enjoy. And then the rest of it I don't care much at all. The skits feel like a huge waste of time and take you out of the mood. Overall a 3, because the great songs are still great. Seriously, how is Hey Ya! so catchy still?
3
Dec 11 2024
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We're Only In It For The Money
The Mothers Of Invention
No. Just... no.
1
Dec 12 2024
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Want One
Rufus Wainwright
This was alright. I didn't love or hate it. My only question is: Why is it an album I need to listen to before I die? It didn't seem that special. What classic album didn't make it on the list because this one did?
3
Dec 13 2024
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
3
Dec 14 2024
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Bad
Michael Jackson
Smooth Criminal is still kind of a cool song, but the whole thing sounds so weak. So many synths and drum machines. I just don't feel like it holds up at all.
2
Dec 15 2024
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Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
So there were a couple tolerable songs (the album opener, for instance), but that can't make up for the mostly atonal drone that I just listened to.
1
Dec 16 2024
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
I liked this a lot more than I expected. I thought it was going to be a rap album, but really I'd put it closer to something like 70's soul. At times I got a Stevie Wonder vibe from some of the songs. Good stuff.
4
Dec 17 2024
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Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
The Flaming Lips
Is it weird? Hell yes. But if you just give into it, it's a lovely ride.
5
Dec 19 2024
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Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
I really want to like Tom Waits, I really do. I really appreciate that he exists, and I want to enjoy his music, but I don't. Maybe two songs on here were okay, but the rest was nothing I'll ever come back to.
2
Dec 20 2024
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Nixon
Lambchop
This was decent. A nice mellow listen. Not memorable enough for four stars, but better than I expected.
3
Dec 21 2024
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Funeral
Arcade Fire
5
Dec 22 2024
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Oar
Alexander 'Skip' Spence
It's kind of a psychedelic folk-rock thing. If you're into that sort of sound, definitely check it out.
3
Dec 23 2024
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The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett
I didn't love it. To me it sounded like the generic soundtrack to some forgettable 60's movie. It's not a sound I'm into. That being said, my wife really did enjoy it. Your mileage may vary.
2
Dec 24 2024
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If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
I liked this, but it doesn't really feel like the kind of thing I'd listen to at home. It probably belongs in a bar or something. Bumped up from 3 to 4 stars because it has Fairytale of New York on it, which will always be a Christmas favorite.
4