Dec 26 2024
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A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
Various Artists
This is a whimsical Christmas record featuring mostly standard & inoffensive covers. However, Sleigh Ride wormed its way into my brain as a high schooler in band and this classic version of it sparks very little joy at this point.
The last track features a corny spiel by Phil Spector that destroys Silent Night and is something I hate.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) is a standout.
2
Dec 27 2024
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
As smooth as it is infectious as it is energetic. This record is unbelievably good!
5
Dec 28 2024
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The Village Green Preservation Society
The Kinks
Sarcastic & musically dynamic. I wasn’t expecting this record to be as annoying as it becomes though, but at least it’s whimsical about it.
Standout track is: “Last of the Steam-Powered Trains”.
2
Dec 29 2024
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The Gershwin Songbook
Ella Fitzgerald
I listened to a lot of this but not the entirety. It’s almost impossible to rank as an album. Ella doesn’t miss though, so it deserves a four.
4
Dec 30 2024
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Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Funky fresh is the only way to describe it. Reminds me of A’s games. Middle of the record wears a little thin.
3
Dec 31 2024
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Found this one on YouTube. When it hits, it hits hard! Bells, synths, and funky bass lines. This was my second Funkadelic album after Maggot Brain, and I enjoyed it more. I can think of a million r&b cuts that owe their life to this album, at least spiritually.
4
Jan 01 2025
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Blunderbuss
Jack White
5
Jan 02 2025
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Out Of The Blue
Electric Light Orchestra
This was an extremely frustrating album to listen to. The songwriting at times is so infectious as to be unbelievable, only for the song to transition wildly into something incoherent, and then again to a third thing. I don’t pick up on the through line here.
Stand out track is Mr. Blue Sky, obviously.
2
Jan 03 2025
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Who's Next
The Who
Solid & sonically consistent. Pretty hard for 1971. The novelty doesn’t land for me though because of how influential the who are. I dont love Daltrey’s voice, which knocks it down a peg.
3
Jan 04 2025
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Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
Sweet, sensual & melodic. Unlike my father I appreciate Frank’s falsetto. A very nostalgic album for me.
4
Jan 05 2025
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
3
Jan 06 2025
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The Who Sell Out
The Who
Lots of Beatles & Pschedelic influence. The problem is the Who just…don’t do it as well. This album is a bit disjointed and far less epic than Who’s Next.
Standout track is “Odorono”.
2
Jan 07 2025
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Groundbreaking album art over a strong group of only somewhat derivative songs. Elvis’ voice sounds perfect on the more country-twinged rockabilly stuff. He should have always gone the Country route.
Standout tracks are “Trying to Get to You” and “I’m Counting on You”.
3
Jan 08 2025
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Viva Hate
Morrissey
Beautiful guitar work and some nice strings. Solid Morrissey vocals. This album has a dark tone and isn’t something I’d often return to because it makes my heart hurt.
Stand out tracks are “Late Night, Maudlin Street” and “Everyday is like Sunday”.
4
Jan 09 2025
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Made In Japan
Deep Purple
I moderately disliked this. The bass work is nice obviously, and the band is tight, but the vocals are grating to me like in a lot of classic rock, and it evoked literally no emotion in me.
2
Jan 10 2025
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American Beauty
Grateful Dead
Dreamy, smooth AND chunky. I love pretty much everything ever played by a jam band and this is no exception.
Standout track is “Ripple”.
4
Jan 11 2025
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Marquee Moon
Television
Diverse, catchy, and jazzy. I appreciate the fuzzy vocals, tight drumming, and long guitar solos.
Standout song is “Marquee moon”. This song rips. Also “prove it”
4
Jan 12 2025
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
American “British Invasion” rock mixed with some classic American folk sensibilities. I think it’s a nice, but doesn’t evoke much in me.
3
Jan 13 2025
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Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Classic Rock of the type I don’t typically love, but there were some surprises here and it’s a decent album. The little bits of sax in “Brown Sugar” are nice and the lengthy guitar solos throughout are appreciated. Mick Jagger is seriously a bad singer and is absolutely brutal on “Dead Flowers”.
Standout track is “Wild Horses”.
3
Jan 14 2025
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Illmatic
Nas
Obviously an influential record, but one I find relatively boring. Pretty dynamic beats but pretty standard flows (to modern ears uneducated in hip hop at least).
3
Jan 15 2025
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American Idiot
Green Day
Perfect encapsulation of early aughts atomization & disillusionment. Somewhat translatable to the current political environment. Ended Neoconservatism.
Stand Out attacks are “Holiday” and “Give Me Novacaine”.
4
Jan 16 2025
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
This album is far more epic than I thought. The vocals are impeccable, the piano is notable throughout and the whole thing is very campy and musical theatrical.
The standout tracks are “I’ve Seen That Movie Too” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”.
4
Jan 17 2025
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Kid A
Radiohead
No thank you! I despise Radiohead. Thom Yorke’s voice is weak, metallic, formless, and grating and ruins whatever interesting musical flourishes or polyrhythms there are. Nice bass playing throughout though.
The standout track is “Optimistic”, I guess.
2
Jan 18 2025
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
This is a sweet album. Good, but not perfect. Beautiful & impeccable Paul Simon vocals. Standard folk instrumentation. I’m thrown off by the insertion of a live track in the midst of all the other studio versions.
Stand out tracks are “The Boxer” and “The Only Living Biy in New York”.
4
Jan 19 2025
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Birth Of The Cool
Miles Davis
Warm, fuzzy, and oh so jazzy. Great sax & trumpet licks throughout. Gasser made us listen to this one back in the day.
Almost perfect or actually perfect.
5
Jan 20 2025
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Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The Smashing Pumpkins
This album is almost operatic in a certain way. I like the vibe and the story tellling where it exists, but Billy Corgan’s voice literally ruins the entire thing for me though. It’s metallic and whiny.
Standout tracks are “1979” and “Zero”.
2
Jan 21 2025
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1999
Prince
I’m not convinced that this album isn’t a prank. It really sounds like prince just went wild over bop-it samples. I’m sure this was innovative in its day, but I can’t take it seriously.
1
Jan 22 2025
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Exile On Main Street
The Rolling Stones
Confirms my suspicion that the Stones are actually at their best when not playing rock music. I like the bluesy and country vibes on this album.
Standout track is “Sweet Virginia”
3
Jan 23 2025
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Guitar Town
Steve Earle
This hits hard. I’ve never really listened to Steve Earle but I love his classic voice and the modern country instrumentation.
4
Jan 24 2025
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Metal Box
Public Image Ltd.
WOW. It was hard to find this album, but YouTube came in clutch. I absolutely love it. An hour of rage, driving bass, and hard hitting percussion. Took years off my life in a good way.
5
Jan 25 2025
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Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
Stan Getz is my all-around favorite saxophonist and this album is superb, though I actually prefer his earlier non-bossy nova work. This is vivacious and danceable.
4
Jan 26 2025
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Fly Or Die
N.E.R.D
Very creative & energetic, but feels disjointed. I don’t love the musical palette.
2
Jan 27 2025
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
Bright & Well-textured. Great guitar solos and Robert Plant vocals, as always.
Standout tracks are “Since I’ve Been Loving You and “Hats off To (Roy) Harper”
4
Jan 28 2025
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1984
Van Halen
Doesn’t feel inspired to me. Evoked nothing. It’s the type of classic rock I dislike amped up.
2
Jan 29 2025
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I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
Respectable considering how much I dislike pano ballads in general. Very tender & emotional lyricism. Don’t love the vibratto in the vocals.
Standout track is: “My Lady Story”
2
Jan 30 2025
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Pretty lovely. Buddy Holly’s voice is very boyish and somehow holds up seventy years later. Had only ever listened to That’ll Be The Day but there are better tracks on here.
Standout tracks are: “Maybe Baby” and “Last Night”.
3
Jan 31 2025
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Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
This was quite surprising! Having not listened to much Springsteen, this was far more introspective and sensitive than the machismo I expected. Strangely lots of law enforcement content. I appreciate the blue-sky harmonica and stripped down guitar.
Standout track is: “State Troooper”
4
Feb 01 2025
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Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Both funky & silky smooth. I particularly love the piano ballads like “They Won’t Go When I Go” and “Too Shy to Say”. I could see Elton singing these. I didnt really know Stevie Wonder had this side to him.
4
Feb 02 2025
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
I like the otherworldly aesthetics and it certainly sounds like it too. Great fat bass tone & soulful vocals.
Standout track is: “Handcuffs”
3
Feb 03 2025
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Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys Midnight Runners
Wow. This album is pure joy. I’d never listened to Dexy’s apart from Come on Eileen. They call it pop rock, but it really is just the perfect ska record. Melodic & upbeat with some unexpected vocal samples and spoken word.
Will be on repeat forever.
5
Feb 04 2025
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
I abhors Snoop’s voice and no sick beat can overcome it. Absolutely terrible.
1