Dec 09 2024
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
My first generated album and it's a classic. How do you not groove to this masterpiece?
There are some stretches in this album that didn't hold my attention, but none of it was offensive or unbearable, just kind of background filler.
4
Dec 10 2024
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Siamese Dream
The Smashing Pumpkins
This album is undeniably one of the defining albums of the 90's. I don't understand all the hate on Billy Corgan's voice. It's unique and weird and helps brand the band.
This was a good listen.
4
Dec 11 2024
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Brothers
The Black Keys
You could remove the spaces between the songs and just have one long continuous song because every one of them sounds exactly the same.
I really liked Sinister Kid when it came out, but listening to this entire album is aural torture. Listening to one or two songs is fine, but more than that is just too monotonous. I kept checking how much longer I had left to listen to this album. That's not a good indicator for a repeat listen.
3
Dec 12 2024
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Hunky Dory
David Bowie
Yay! Can't go wrong with David Bowie! So many good songs, Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Life on Mars?, Queen Bitch; and Kooks reminds me of his first album, an early 60's pop sound.
I love the guitar riff on Andy Warhol and The Bewley Brothers is so weird, it's my new favorite song! Great album!
5
Dec 13 2024
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
I'm conflicted on this one. The only song I was familiar with was Immigrant Song (and WHAT a song), so I was excited to hear the rest of the album. It opens so strong with Immigrant Song, but then nothing really grabbed me after that, so I decided to give it a second listen.
Second time through I found Friends, Tangerine, That's the Way and Bron-Y-Aur Stomp were stronger (better? more interesting?) than on my initial listen. This one is definitely not my favorite Led Zeppelin album.
3
Dec 14 2024
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Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
Two great songs, Gimme Shelter and You Can't Always Get What You Want, and a lot of filler between the two.
3
Dec 15 2024
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Let It Be
The Replacements
Listening to The Replacements takes me back to my early college days; and their rough, give no shits attitude is what I love best about the 'Mats.
This album gives the listener a taste of both their earlier raw sound and their upcoming more polished sound that will happen on the album Tim.
I Will Dare, Unsatisfied and Sixteen Blue are some damn fine songs!
5
Dec 16 2024
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Bummed
Happy Mondays
If someone deemed this album an essential listen, they must not have very high standards....
Boring, monotonous, uninspiring.
2
Dec 17 2024
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Purple Rain
Prince
This album is solid, beginning to end. So much energy and emotion contained in 44 minutes of music. Prince was amazing, made the music he wanted to make, didn't back down from the industry bullies and died way too soon.
5
Dec 18 2024
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
I think these songs need someone to actually sing them, not just speak the lyrics. The precise pronunciation is off-putting, even the song titles are proper. It's, "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong," instead of using "Can't (and speaking of this song, the weird sing/yelling at the end seems very out of place on this album).
I'm staring at this album cover and I can't decide if it looks like a headshot for Ray Romano or Dustin Hoffman, and that is confusing my brain because I can't reconcile his voice to this picture.
Oh, I just heard a mouth harp, cool.
2
Dec 19 2024
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
I grew up having to listen to this version of "I Shot the Sheriff" over and over and over on the radio. I didn't like the song back then and time hasn't changed my opinion. What a lackluster album for someone who is "supposed" to be a great musician (but is actually a horrible human being instead); and it doesn't get any worse than the snooze fest that is "Willie and the Hand Jive."
A very mediocre album.
2
Dec 20 2024
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Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
Desire Lines is a good song and is the best one on this album. The rest of the album is fine. That's it, not horrible, or fantastic, just fine.
3
Dec 21 2024
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
I had a boyfriend who worshiped the cute one (I'm sure he still does). Me, I liked the bad boy; and just like the band, we didn't last either.
This is a Paul McCartney and Wings album. Of course it's going to be good. There are a couple of meh songs, but most are solid and I forgot how much I liked Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five.
4
Dec 22 2024
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Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J
I paid attention to the first couple of songs, then I just tuned the music out and it became background noise while my mind wandered to other things.
Why are all these songs 4+ minutes long? There's something to be said for short and sweet and none of these songs are either.
Title song is the only one worth listening to.
2
Dec 23 2024
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Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Lucinda Williams
Classic Americana performed flawlessly. This album evokes such a sense of nostalgia. Clean, simple, timeless.
Love this entire album, but favorites are Right In Time, Can't Let Go and Joy.
5
Dec 24 2024
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
I've always had an issue with Neil Young's voice. It just annoys me; it's all shaky, whiny, breathy and nasally.
But then there's Cinnamon Girl, Down by the River and Cowgirl in the Sand that are pretty good songs, so he's getting a middling rating.
3
Dec 25 2024
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Tago Mago
Can
My first thought was that I've never heard of this band or seen this album cover before and I'm going to listen to over an hour of music with only 7 songs? Well, surprise, surprise, I really got into it.
Although, about halfway through Augmn I thought I heard the forerunner to the muppet Martians saying, yep yep yep yep yep yep. I was expecting to hear brrrrrinnnngggg. It would've fit right in with this song.
Augmn and Peking O are long and trippy, and you definitely have to be in the right frame of mind to listen to them.
Bring Me Coffee or Tea was a good way to end this intriguing album.
4
Dec 26 2024
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
I'm not big on Christmas music, but this one is good. Darlene Love is great on White Christmas and absolutely fantastic on Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).
3
Dec 27 2024
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
My first listen to this album. If I was coming of age when this album came out, it definitely would have been on heavy rotation. Listening to it for the first time, as an adult, it's harder to appreciate the raw jangly, discord, but there are some great songs here.
Standouts: In the Mouth a Desert, Perfume-V and Fame Throwa.
4
Dec 28 2024
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Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Beautiful music, beautiful lyrics, a beautiful soul.
The last words of the last song just broke me.
So Sunday sat
In the Saturday sun
And wept
For a day
Gone by
5
Dec 29 2024
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
I grew up in a rural area. Our town never grasped the love of southern rock. When you went to parties it was Styx or REO Speedwagon or ELO. But just a few miles down the road was the town that worshiped southern rock, especially Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Occasionally, my best friend and I would travel to this town to visit a friend and party. The soundtrack for the evening would always include this album, usually multiple times. I believe that's what's called the good ole days.
4
Dec 30 2024
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Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
It's always an interesting listen with the Talking Heads. While Life During Wartime is the most well known song from this album, I especially like Cities, Air and Heaven.
5
Dec 31 2024
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Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
There wasn't one song on this album that caught and held my interest. It's well produced, but the songs themselves are just not interesting and quite forgettable. The faux folksy theme was uninspiring.
2
Jan 01 2025
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Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
Pleasantly surprised by this album. I'd never heard of them so I had no clue what to expect from them musically. They're electronic, yes, but I also hear the swing revival that happened in the late 90's early 00's, along with a bit of reggae.
A few of the songs were tedious, but mostly I enjoyed this album.
3
Jan 02 2025
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The White Album
Beatles
This is a great album, even if it isn't my favorite Beatles album. The length isn't that bad, especially since there are a lot of good songs on here, but there are a few songs that could definitely have been left off (looking at you Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and Why Don't We Do It in the Road).
My favorite songs by side. This was hard because the best songs are on the first two sides.
Side One: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Side Two: Blackbird
Side Three: Birthday
Side Four: Revolution 1
5
Jan 03 2025
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Rapture
Anita Baker
There's no denying that Anita Baker has a powerful, beautiful voice, but it's too bad that these songs do nothing to support that voice. The entire album is just overproduced 80's blah.
2
Jan 04 2025
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Figure 8
Elliott Smith
My initial thought was positive through the first half of the album. As it hit the middle, it started to all bleed together. I think this needs a few more listens to appreciate both the music and lyrics. You can definitely hear the Beatles influence in his work.
I liked the paring of Everything Reminds Me of Her with Everything Means Nothing to Me - clever.
Can't Make a Sound is probably my favorite, and the instrumental Bye is a haunting and fitting end to this album.
4
Jan 05 2025
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
Oh my, it's been way too long since I've listened to this entire album. It was a delight to rediscover all the old favorites.
I love the fun vibe that flows through this album, with the funky bass, the horns, the sax, the percussion....so good!
4
Jan 06 2025
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White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
I like this.
The Gift is an early audio book. The ending was predictable, but in 1968, that had to have freaked some people out.
And Sister Ray sounds like the drug-fueled parties I attended in my youth, it feels wanton and depraved, in all the best ways.
4
Jan 07 2025
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Automatic For The People
R.E.M.
My god, this album is perfect.
5
Jan 08 2025
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Soul Mining
The The
I've been a fan of The The for a long time, but this was the first time listening to this album. This is the Day is definitely the standout, but Uncertain Smile is a close second with a great piano solo at the end. The Twilight Hour offers an interesting take on obsession, and Soul Mining has a nice trippy vibe.
Overall, a good album.
4
Jan 09 2025
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Strange Cargo III
William Orbit
I wasn't sure I was going to like this album when it started. Electronica is so diverse. This does make me think of it as a soundtrack for a very weird movie - something to do with ancient artifacts and space.
Not great, but not bad, pure middle ground.
3
Jan 10 2025
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Reggatta De Blanc
The Police
This is one of those albums I know by heart and I know exactly which songs are brilliant without even looking at the playlist.
Message in a Bottle
Bring on the Night
Bed’s Too Big Without You
They all play so well on this album. So many great bass lines and guitar riffs and Copeland's drumming...outstanding!
4
Jan 11 2025
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Blah, blah, classic, blah, blah, legendary, blah, blah, tragic...
I can understand why this is considered a stepping stone to the bands that followed, but honestly, there is something unnerving about Buddy Holly that gives me the creeps. A predator hiding behind fun, pop music.
2
Jan 12 2025
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Moondance
Van Morrison
I've never been a fan of Van Morrison. His music is too mellow and just becomes background music. I found it incredibly difficult to keep my attention on the music while listening to this one. There was nothing that grabbed my attention. And Moondance is one of those over-played radio songs that I'm tired of hearing.
2
Jan 13 2025
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Rain Dogs
Tom Waits
What a great album! Someone wrote that this was like Halloween music. I agree with that statement, but where we differ is that I view it as a good thing. There are several songs on here that would be right at home on the soundtrack for Nightmare Before Christmas.
So many new favorites: Singapore, Clap Hands, Cemetery Polka, Jockey Full of Bourbon, Gun Street Girl
5
Jan 14 2025
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
I can only take so much of Robert Plant's screeching and moaning. It makes it very difficult to list to an entire album without getting annoyed by it. However, musically, this album kicks ass and would be a lot more interesting without the gratuitous screeching.
Not their best album.
3
Jan 15 2025
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Survivor
Destiny's Child
This was like spending an hour listening to a group of teens, annoying and immature.
The cover of Emotion is fine, and is the only redeeming moment on this album.
Not good.
1
Jan 16 2025
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Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
One of my favorite albums from the 90's.
Powerful and vulnerable.
An absolutely beautiful album.
5
Jan 17 2025
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What's That Noise?
Coldcut
I can't decide if I like this genre. There are some catchy tunes and I found myself bopping my head to several, but it starts to get tiresome after about 40 minutes. No album needs to be an hour+.
3
Jan 18 2025
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
I really dislike long albums. No matter how much I love and appreciate a band, anything can get old if it's over 45 minutes.
So while this one is a tad long - over 2 hours - I understand the sentiment behind it if this is truly a catalog of the songs rejected by John and Paul. There are some fine songs in this collection. I believe my favorite is What Is Life.
I've slowly come to the realization that my favorite Beatle is the quiet one.
4
Jan 19 2025
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
I don't need this in my life. I can generate copious amounts of depression and anger without this added provocation.
2
Jan 20 2025
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
The first four songs are absolute bangers, and it's an incredible start to the album. There are a couple that made me roll my eyes and wonder what possessed them to keep them on (Jamaica Jerk-Off and Roy Rogers), but aside from them, this is a great album.
Favorite song: Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.
4
Jan 21 2025
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Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
I'm impressed that Dave Grohl wrote and recorded this thing by himself, but I don't know that I'd ever pull this one up to listen to it again.
3
Jan 22 2025
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The College Dropout
Kanye West
No. I got halfway through We Don't Care and wondered why should I spend my valuable time listening to an antisemitic, homophobic, racist, rapist POS.
Also, he sings flat.
1
Jan 23 2025
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Alien Lanes
Guided By Voices
My initial thought on hearing the first couple of songs is that I really don't like lo-fi. It's muddy and crusty and not at all pleasing to listen to.
But then I heard a few songs that had potential, and I tried to shift my perspective to what was going on musically, rather than the production value.
I'm still not a fan of lo-fi, but it's not horrible.
3
Jan 24 2025
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Fever Ray
Fever Ray
This album creates a very specific mood, it's dark and cold and sparse, and it's devastatingly wonderful.
It reminds me of David Bowie's Darkstar, and maybe he took his inspiration from this.
Keep The Streets Empty For Me is definitely the favorite.
4
Jan 25 2025
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Good album and I love her voice. I was familiar with Zero and Heads Will Roll as singles from this one, but Dull Life, Dragon Queen and Hysteric are all strong songs as well.
4
Jan 26 2025
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Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
I adore this album! I admit I'm a bit biased as I had such a crush on him during my late teen years, so anything by Iggy Pop is 👍. But this album is peak Pop.
My favorite songs are still Some Weird Sin and Neighborhood Threat.
Love this! 💕
5
Jan 27 2025
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I grew up listening to all the old school country acts, but never fully appreciated them because they weren't "cool." Boy, was I wrong.
This album is Dolly in her prime, singing about heartbreak, and kindness, and love. My goodness, she is a treasure.
I love these lyrics in A Better Place To Live. This world certainly would be a better place to live if we followed Dolly's advice.
And if we'd love one another instead of finding faults
We could afford the price of peace, love is all it costs
Oh wouldn't it be great to live and sing in harmony
Everybody take your brother's hand and sing along with me
4
Jan 28 2025
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
This was not as good as I thought it would be. I'd always liked Clint Eastwood, so I was thinking I'd enjoy the rest of this album. Nope. I found it boring and tedious and immature; and after listening to this entire album, I don't think I like Clint Eastwood as much as I once did.
2
Jan 29 2025
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Real Life
Magazine
Less than a minute into the first song and I already knew this was going to be awesome! Even though I've never heard this album, it felt like I was listening to an old favorite because this is exactly the kind of music I lived for when I was young; it's weird, cool, edgy and definitely not mainstream.
The Light Pours Out Of Me, Motorcade and Shot By Both Sides are the highlights.
5
Jan 30 2025
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Seventeen Seconds
The Cure
I remember watching MTV one day and seeing the video for In Between Days and it blew my mind. I have been a fan of The Cure since.
This album conjures an atmosphere of an evening walk down a misty English lane surrounded by trees. I also love this one for all the amazing bass lines, especially in Play For Today.
Perfection in 35 minutes of music.
5
Jan 31 2025
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Jazz is the one genre that I've never enjoyed. I can appreciate the artists and their musical talent, but this isn't music I seek out.
All Blues was okay.
3
Feb 01 2025
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Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Man, I'm just bored and tired of this album.
I swear I've heard it a hundred times, at parties, in bars, on the radio. It was EVERYWHERE in 1984-85.
Yes, there are some catchy tunes, but my god, the more enthusiastic the song, the louder the yelling. I get sympathetic vocal cord shredding from the screaming on Born In The U.S.A.
And hearing him yell "woo" all the time is just annoying. I get Arthur Fonzarelli "ayyyy" vibes from it....but it's way less cool.
3
Feb 02 2025
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Abbey Road
Beatles
I grew up listening to all these songs, but I think this is the first time I've heard the entire album, in order.
Damn, if this isn't perfection - the songs, the arrangements, the medley, the hidden track, the flow of the songs, the album cover....
Favorite songs: Come Together, Something, Oh! Darling and Here Comes The Sun.
5
Feb 03 2025
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Veckatimest
Grizzly Bear
This definitely turned into background music while listening to it. I can't see myself actively choosing to listen to this one again.
2
Feb 04 2025
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
I wasn't familiar with this Rolling Stones album, and after listening to it I can see I wasn't missing much. It's bluesy and unpolished and kinda folksy with a gospel-rock vibe, and usually I'd dig an album like that, but this one just didn't connect with me.
It's also much too long. By the 40 minute mark I was ready to be done, but then I would have missed Shine A Light, which is my favorite song from this one.
3
Feb 05 2025
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Frank
Amy Winehouse
The potential is there, but it just never hits the mark. You can tell this is her debut album. None of the songs are memorable and I'm left feeling horribly let down by something that could've been great.
2
Feb 06 2025
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Tuesday Night Music Club
Sheryl Crow
I was a huge fan of this when it came out, but it seems different than I remember it, or maybe I'm different than I was in 1993? There are some smashing songs on here that I still love, Run, Baby, Run, Leaving Las Vegas, The Na-Na Song and Strong Enough. And I even found a new favorite in What I Can Do For You.
So while I'm definitely not the same person I was in 1993, this album is still as solid as it was back then.
4
Feb 07 2025
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Water From An Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
For jazz, this wasn't too bad. Smooth and mellow, but it also kind of reminded me of 70's sitcom/drama theme music.
Still, it's not something I'd ever voluntarily play.
2
Feb 08 2025
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Marquee Moon
Television
What an outstanding album, especially all the intricate guitar work. Brilliant.
5
Feb 09 2025
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Celebrity Skin
Hole
I really enjoyed listening to this one. A bit more polished than the Hole of Live Through This, but still a great album.
The most amazing song = Northern Star.
4
Feb 10 2025
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Supa Dupa Fly
Missy Elliott
Yeah....I don't think so. A couple of good songs and A LOT of filler. Another hour long album of zzzzzzzzzzz.
2
Feb 11 2025
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Transformer
Lou Reed
Good album. All the hits. Perfect Day is brilliant.
4