A strong start to the 1001 Albums project. Nostalgic, bittersweet, uplifting all at once. Some music truly earns its reputation. Lyrically simple, but it speaks of experiences broadly shared — you could spend a lifetime memorising and singing along. The songs are often upbeat and easily danceable, even when the narrative is sombre, although the album seems to take a brief detour towards a more serious sound midway through. One thing I'll take away from this is that the vocalists (presumably John and Paul?) harmonise in a way that instantly rejuvenates the soul and may very well be unparalleled throughout music history. I'd like to revisit this when I am more knowledgeable about music in general, and see what other insights I can uncover. Favourites: Norwegian Wood, I'm Looking Through You, In My Life, If I Needed Someone (6th Jan '25, 0726h.)

A strong start to the 1001 Albums project. Nostalgic, bittersweet, uplifting all at once. Some music truly earns its reputation. Lyrically simple, but it speaks of experiences broadly shared — you could spend a lifetime memorising and singing along. The songs are often upbeat and easily danceable, even when the narrative is sombre, although the album seems to take a brief detour towards a more serious sound midway through. One thing I'll take away from this is that the vocalists (presumably John and Paul?) harmonise in a way that instantly rejuvenates the soul and may very well be unparalleled throughout music history. I'd like to revisit this when I am more knowledgeable about music in general, and see what other insights I can uncover. Favourites: Norwegian Wood, I'm Looking Through You, In My Life, If I Needed Someone (6th Jan '25, 0726h.)

I didn't listen to the second part of the album before the challenge reset, but I deeply enjoyed what I did listen to. This can be considered an attempt to map all corners of negative feeling; some songs embody bittersweetness, nostalgia, heartbreak, and indeed melancholy, whereas others are substantially angrier and express grievances about life and the world — for this reason, the album could appeal to younger people in particular. In my opinion, this record is at its best when its passions accumulate and burst into explosions of sound: on 'Here Is No Why' and 'Muzzle' for example, the instruments and vocals combine in force to rush the eardrums and invade the mind of the listener, twisting and twirling and steering and skirling within the skull. When this happens it's extremely difficult not to mirror and participate in that intensity of feeling. Not only will I go on to listen to the second part of the album, but I will also most likely replay this several times in the future. Favourites: Jellybelly, Here Is No Why, To Forgive, Love, Muzzle, Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans (2/1001, 8th Jan. '25, 0414h. Recreation of lost first draft created at approx. 0235h.)

I've no familiarity whatsoever with the artist, the genre, or live albums in general, but there's no disputing the fact that this music is fantastic and its energy is infectious. I adored listening to Brown's voice, and the band played perfectly. Perhaps the most notable part of this album is how it memorialises the love and fervour of the audience — you can hear their screams of adoration throughout the record. Favourites: Try Me, Lost Someone (3/1001, 11th Jan. '25, 1407h.)

Beautiful music. Undoubtably I am missing the full context here as this is the first Bowie record I've listened to — there are surely a few references to previous work and other recurring themes placed throughout — but I can still recognise its significance, the sorrow and pride that intertwine to create a swan song that knows it's a swan song. Surely this is not the first time that Bowie has dabbled in jazz, but he has given it a modern flair; you can especially hear the influence of contemporary music on 'Girl Like Me'. I want to listen to music that sounds like this more often. Favourites: Blackstar, Lazarus, Girl Like Me (4/1001, 12th Jan. '25, 1657h.)

The singles on this album stand amongst the greatest rock songs of all time, but there is little else of note that distinguishes the other tracks. Maybe it's because I'm more tuned in to this kind of thing from just hearing 'Blackstar', but I felt that the influences of jazz were especially noticeable here. Pleasant listening, but I wouldn't mind if I never heard this album again. (5/1001, 13th Jan. '25, 0954h.).