Jan 13 2025
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
What a wonderful album, and honestly, shame on me for not knowing let the good times roll came from Ray Charles (or before).
NOT a great album for walking, but going to put it on the list for relaxing at night. What a vibe.
4
Jan 14 2025
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Bookends
Simon & Garfunkel
I mean, this album has 3 certified bangers that basically everyone has heard, so it's already up there.
However, besides those, maybe At the Zoo stands up as a fourth? The rest seemed pretty normal, so probably not a 5 star.
Might need another listen or two, i get there's a story there but didn't feel it
4
Jan 15 2025
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Dummy
Portishead
Such an odd album. I definitely didn't like it, not my particular type of music, but it was also good for not liking it? Can see why it was on this list. Such a cool sound and aesthetic.
3
Jan 16 2025
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Frank
Amy Winehouse
Yeah, I've never really enjoyed Amy winehouse, so it was interesting to sit down and listen to a full album. You can feel the groove and understand why she hit with people....it's just not for me. But I'd leave it on if I needed relaxing music....maybe.
2
Jan 17 2025
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Murmur
R.E.M.
Boy, I didn't think I was an REM hater, I like their hits, but I don't know about this one. Didn't really connect with any song, and nothing stood out. I dunno, missed the mark for me
1
Jan 20 2025
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Doolittle
Pixies
Basically....it was OK. You can see the roots of things I like, and it was decent....but nothing was great. Just solid all around
2
Jan 21 2025
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
This was dope. Biggest vibes album, felt very old school cool. I've heard Sam Cookes voice was amazing, and it definitely was. Almost deserves a record spin to vibe around the house.
4
Jan 22 2025
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Killer. It's fun to hear an album that you've heard so many songs from strung together.
Hot take, maybe it didn't need to be a triple album, but a ton of great songs on it.
4
Jan 23 2025
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Amnesiac
Radiohead
Yeah, I think maybe I need to take some drugs and listen again, but Radiohead has just....never done it for me. They sound amazing, but the songs just don't fit together. Maybe I should track down a concert, but has just as much chance to be terrible, they're so produced.
What I will say is Hunting Bears has the slickest sound, easily the best song on the album at first glance. Will come back when in different mindset sometime to see if it helps.
2
Jan 24 2025
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Abraxas
Santana
Good album. Black Magic Woman is obviously a classic, but the rest of the songs are also a groove. Not enough structure for me personally, but to be able to go vibe to this in a concert....yeah, absolutely.
And the talent is...non-debatable. Definitely something to get on a record and relax to.
3
Jan 27 2025
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
Amazing highs, i'm not sure the entire album bops, but wouldn't it be nice and, more importantly, god only knows are......top 20 songs of all time? Gotta be. Does that make the album a 5? I don't know, maybe i'll come back and rate it as such, but some of the other songs are pretty forgettable. So for now, 4.
God only knows......so good.
4
Jan 28 2025
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A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
Can see the artistry, as someone who's sat with a bunch of terrible instrumentalists this shines as something above and beyond.
But maybe I'm just not a fan of jazz. Need to put it on with a glass of wine, or maybe at a club, and see if it's different. Oozes creativity, just not my style.
2
Jan 29 2025
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If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
If there was ever an album to really prove why CSN and CSNY were amazing, this was it. I understand now why Crosby's name goes first on CSN, he's clearly the architect of the sound.
But boy does he struggle to pull a thought together, or really hone it into a killer song. It's beautiful music, but it's not interesting. Desperately needed Stills and Young (and maybe Nash, not as familiar) to put everything together, bring some oomph, and hone it to what it was.
Still a nice relaxed album, just not great.
2
Jan 30 2025
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Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan
Honestly, pretty dope. Love the concept, love the execution in a medium I don't really enjoy. The songs all had a groove, they had a clear voice, and I can understand why it hits.
Again, probably not coming back because it's not my jam, but I could see cruising to this.
3
Jan 31 2025
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Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
If this was the American answer to the Beatles.................woof. It mildly recovered on the 2nd side, but there just felt like there was nothing redeeming.
It honestly felt like the Crosby record, where they had a sound (yesyes the jangly guitar was great) but they couldn't actually write a song.
Maybe on future plays it'll get a little better, but really only giving this a three because I like the sound and the back half mildly recovered. If this was a genre i didn't like.......eeek
3
Feb 03 2025
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Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
Well this was dope. The front half was basically all bangers, and while it faded in the second half, still a stellar album.
The vocals were all over the place (in a good way), the lyrics hit even the first time through, and the moodiness of the backing was great. Super suave album.
4
Feb 04 2025
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Play
Moby
Actually pretty decent for house music. May need to put this on my background playlist, though would need to go through and cull the right vibes. But just overall, putting this on at a party would fit right in, I can totally see why this was here. Vibed with quite a few.
3
Feb 05 2025
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Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Derek & The Dominos
Yeah, it's no disreali gears. For whatever reason, I just love the Cream version of Clapton, and can't really get in to the rest. But obviously Layla, and there are a couple other bangers, but I wouldn't call it consistent. Good album, probably a 4 if I didn't like rock and I didn't think Cream was amazing. Someone will sue me for this later (sorry Mr. Embree)/
3
Feb 06 2025
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
I'm....not sure why this album was on this list. It was entirely forgettable. It's not like it was bad, but there was nothing outstanding there. Maybe two songs were worth listening again, besides vibing out? Dunno about this one.
Do love the band name though, 10/10.
1
Feb 07 2025
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Actually
Pet Shop Boys
I thought this was a pretty solid electronic album. Definitely something i'd put on, even though I don't really like the genre. Flowed really easily, had some good beats. I can see being born in a different time and hanging out with a different group, how I'd fall into this.
3
Feb 10 2025
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
This album rules. One of my favorite concerts was for their 2nd albums tour in Oakland where they played the majority of this album. Standing bout 10 ft away from the stage, pit opened next to me and other dude from college, and we basically held the wall to protect the people we were with. Amazing time.
I know When the Sun Goes Down gets all the hype in the US (although spotify apparently has mostly normalized), but I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefoor has a forever spot on my Turn Up playlist. Aware that some of the middle songs really just turn pretty basic so not a 5, but damn close. Should be one of the albums you introduce people to for rock/punk blend imo.
4
Feb 11 2025
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Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
God, this is an album that moshing was made for. The punk version of an AC/DC record, and boy I would kill to have been in the audience on this tour.
That being said, it's not like it's an album I'd leave on very often, they all sort of end up being formulaic except for a couple (anarchy in the uk babyyyyyy).
Still, good album
3
Feb 12 2025
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Olympia 64
Jacques Brel
I mean, it seemed fine, but it's old timey french music, that I'm pretty sure relies on lyrics. So............not really a sell for me since I don't speak french!
1
Feb 13 2025
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Fred Neil
Fred Neil
Felt like a poor man's Jim Croce. Which, isn't bad, but wasn't really anything that stood out to me.
2
Feb 14 2025
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Blunderbuss
Jack White
This album slaps. I remember listening to it when it came out and thinking it was solid, don't know why I walked away for so long. This is def going into the rotation, all over the place in such a pleasant way. Jack White is just a wild dude.
4
Feb 17 2025
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From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
Ok, you can see why Elvis is popular here on the back half of the album. They're definitely soft rock hits, and the voice is.......the voice. It's not a slam dunk album, but I wouldn't be afraid to put this on in the background. It's weird that the back half of the album is so much better than the first, but is what it is. Probably a solid 2.5, but I'll say it's a 3 to round up after the strong close.
3
Feb 18 2025
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You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
This album oozes theme. Get that he was dying, and spoken word isn't really for everyone, but the gravel voice and the dark ambience really did it for me. This is something you listen to when you want to harness the dark side late at night. Amazing stuff
4
Feb 19 2025
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Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
This album cooked from start to finish. Reading about Otis Redding after was.....brutal. Did not realize his best song was posthumous. But this album had a BUNCH of hits, and now I have to figure out whether he wrote them or he didn't. Either way, stellar
4
Feb 20 2025
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Africa Brasil
Jorge Ben Jor
This album was wildly groovy, and I understood nothing. After the last french album thought I was toasted, but this was actually super dope. Probably going to be something to get in a flow state to because I can't understand it!!
4
Feb 21 2025
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Junkyard
The Birthday Party
Felt like the sex pistols album, is this what "post-punk" or "punk" was? Maybe I'm just a pop punk fan? I dunno, I can see it if I were at a concert and in a pit, but otherwise.....pass?
1
Feb 24 2025
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
Wow, this album really redeemed by the last two songs, especially "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed." That one going on the background playlist fosho.
The rest of the album was just sorta there. I get the idea of a jam band concert album, but just sorta there for me.
3
Feb 25 2025
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Is This It
The Strokes
Torn here. There are some real bangers here. If it wasn't alternative that I already loved, would it be a 5? I dunno. The back half of this album especially is SO good. This entire album is tight and interesting, and I've listened to it so many times. But it's one of those - every time I listen to it it's a good idea, rather than something I'm always playing. I dunno. I think I'm going to regret not giving it a 5, but it's not perfect end to end.
I may never give out any 5s and come back and regret (already do once), but fine for now saying this is a stellar, relistenable album. Send me Sgt Peppers pls so I can give a 5.
4
Feb 26 2025
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The Real Thing
Faith No More
Yeah..........this was different, but I wouldn't call it good. One hit wonder territory for sure. When your second best song on the album is a straight cover of War Pigs, which you have no chance to do better than the Sabbath....maybe don't? 2 because Epic is a legitimately amazing song, but the rest....eesh
2
Feb 27 2025
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The Dreaming
Kate Bush
Need to listen to again to figure out if I should give my first 5, don't want this to be Sam Cooke 2.0. This album was all over the place in the best of ways, amazing shit. I can't believe I haven't heard ANY of it.
Listened again, it does sort of tail at points, but I do fucking love it as this wild piece of work. So will go down as a 4, but I loved it. May regret anyways
4
Feb 28 2025
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Goo
Sonic Youth
I think this album had a super rad sound (rad being absolutely the right word), but didn't connect with anything but the first couple, really got lost after. That being said, still rad.
3
Mar 03 2025
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The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe
Couldn't get into this. She's clearly a very talented singer, but.....I dunno, the vibe just didn't work for me. I felt like I was bored in a lounge somewhere.
2
Mar 04 2025
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye West
Ok, I'm no Kanye fan, but the front half of this album slaps. The back half gets real weird, and you can love it I think if you're thinking it's conceptual but with the time thats passed....not shocking that it's turned out this way. However, beside the weirdness, still good. Putting as a 4. Would probably be a 3 in rock, but for not liking a genre or a person...still wild and that counts.
4
Mar 05 2025
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Elephant Mountain
The Youngbloods
Yeah, the first couple songs were good, and solid folk record. But there was nothing that was like holy smokes, what a record. And spotify autoplayed to their best song after, and it just trumped everything here, so solid 2.
2
Mar 06 2025
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Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
An utterly there album. I just don't like arcade fire. 2nd song at least had something.
2
Mar 07 2025
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Berlin
Lou Reed
What the bleep was this. I know Lou Reed, and I like some of his songs, but did this album have any good ones? Just seemed to ramble through randomness, like some of the worst folk/alternative albums of today. I'm not saying artists don't have those, especially ones that experiment, but why was this on the list????
1
Mar 10 2025
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
Bloody well right is a banger, and overall the album has all what you hear of super tramp, but besides bloody well right nothing really speaks to me. Just a solid rock album, but I'd rather listen to the other supertramp album =D
2
Mar 11 2025
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Marquee Moon
Television
This album feels like if Rush tried to be less rocky and more new wavy and punk. Oh, and I guess with someone who wanted to sing a little more than Geddy. It was delightfully proggy at points, doesn't totally scratch my itch because I want it to be harder rocking, but I did enjoy it. Oozes theme, perfect for the fall or a haunted house if you actually wanted to play decent music. Think this is a solid 3.5, but since that's not there, I'll give it the 4 for trying to be different.
4
Mar 12 2025
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Buenas Noches From A Lonely Room
Dwight Yoakam
As far as country albums go, I liked it a lot. I'd listen again, which probably makes it a 4, but we'll come back. Good, twangy, good for sitting around in the backyard watching the dogs relax. Which is what i was doing =D
3
Mar 13 2025
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Rejoicing In The Hands
Devendra Banhart
Well, this does feel like the most 2004 album, but I can't understand why it's on this list. It's a dude and his guitar, and there's nothing that crazy about it, unless I missed a story in the lyrics I. Much better soft folk guitar out there imo
1
Mar 14 2025
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
I.....can see why someone would like this, but didn't have enough pep or enough of anything to really do much for me.
1
Mar 17 2025
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To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar
I think the easiest way to describe this album for me is that it's like a QOTSA album....which is a compliment. It is alllllllll over the place, and it truly doesn't care. And when it hits, it hits (i and Wesley's Theory, particularly good). When it doesn't, it's still listenable, which is also saying something because it's not a genre I hang out in much. I don't think it's far enough above to warrant a 4 like some of the other albums, but absolutely would listen again and maybe move it up.
3
Mar 18 2025
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
The War on Drugs makes the best soundscapes, the whole ensemble when it clicks is just so good. Also true live. And under the pressure is a banger.
But when they slow down or just meander, soundscapes aren't enough. But thoroughly enjoyable album with some standouts (first two songs especially)
3
Mar 19 2025
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Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I...do not know why this Elvis album is on the list. There are a couple decent songs on the list, but we all know there are better efforts out there. Just odd.
2
Mar 20 2025
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Peter Gabriel 3
Peter Gabriel
Ya know, I've never listened to a Peter Gabriel album straight through before, but this is exactly what I would have imagined. Some good, some bad, one banger (Games without Frontiers). Put this sucker on at a party or while partaking and you'd be golden, just solid.
3
Mar 21 2025
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
Amazing album, some amazing hits that stand the test of time, but.......and I may regret this.....did it really need to be a double? It meanders in the middle in places. Think this'd be a 5 album, but there's so much just ok in the middle that i think it downgrades. But honestly, great. I love it. Don't hate me future self.
4
Mar 24 2025
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
This was a dope album. I think it's one of those that just captures a vibe, and while a couple standout tracks (Can I Kick It), it's really enhanced by the fact that almost all the songs have the same vibe while being different. Very chill, very relaxing, I loved it.
4
Mar 25 2025
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Moondance
Van Morrison
Was Glad Tidings (the last song) the best song on this album? No, as much as I'd like to say so, Moondance the song is still a killer. But it was a dope ending.
I don't like Van Morrison for a lot of reasons not music related, and I think his songs are pretty same-y, but this was a bop album. So 3.5 probably, rounded down for being him.
3
Mar 26 2025
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
Just......didn't do much for me. I do like some Joni Mitchell songs, and a great laid back vibe for background, but......nothing really stood out.
2
Mar 27 2025
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Blur
Blur
I mean, no matter what, Song 2 is a banger. Can't take that away. The rest of the album isn't bad, but it's not really above the way either. On Your Own is the other real standout in my opinion. Leaving in the mid-range.
3
Mar 28 2025
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I Should Coco
Supergrass
The first half of this album is a bop. It sort of falls off after that, but an eminently listenable and energetic first half. Along with a banger of a song I would NEVER have been able to pick the band of (Alright). I will be coming back.
3
Mar 31 2025
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Tommy
The Who
It's hard to listen to Tommy and not just compare it to Quadrophenia, one of my favorite albums of all time. It's clearly good, but it lacks the actual feel of a rock album, and really just plays like one long play/song. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it only has one major hit (two?) throughout the album, and it can tend to end up starting sort of the same. I think of it as testing for Quadrophenia. Maybe too harsh at a 3 because the achievement is stunning, but I feel ok with it for now.
3
Apr 01 2025
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If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Pretty basic album besides California Dreamin'. Their take on Do You Wanna Dance was also good, and the rest of the album was definitely worth having on in a vibe, but so clear that one song is head and shoulders above the rest.
3
Apr 02 2025
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The Stooges
The Stooges
Utterly forgettable. Not sure how this makes the list
1
Apr 03 2025
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Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Weird album, I can already tell the list likes this guy. But I like this one much more than I like the other one. Weird voice, shlocky type of sound all the way through. Feels like the soundtrack for an art house film, and sorta love that. Though not sure I'd listen on an album, could see this being dope in concert.
3
Apr 04 2025
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Killing Joke
Killing Joke
I can........sort of see the appeal, but no song really jumped out at me. Just sort of background rock. If I'm going to get a lot of semi-punk albums that all sound the same, gonna be a slog.
1
Apr 07 2025
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Ya know, was sort of getting scarred by old rock albums on this list just being there, but this was solid. Unmistakable sound, super clean, and super on point throughout. No real standout besides maybe phantom of the opera, but very enjoyable. Probably a 3.5 honestly, maybe a 4, but lack of a standout will leave it a 3.
3
Apr 08 2025
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
I think we can safely say I don't like Nine Inch Nails...I can respect the album, and what it's trying to do, and the vibe it gives off....it's just not for me. And while I do like Hurt, Johnny Cash's version has just so overshadowed the original that its hard to come back to this one. Trent can keep doing movie sound tracks though, he good there.
2
Apr 09 2025
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Heroes
David Bowie
David Bowie albums are such vibes. You always know you're going to get some eclectic wild different stuff, and you're going to hear 20 albums influences in it. This is much the same, just wasn't my favorite bowie album. But heroes is a banger.
3
Apr 10 2025
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
Classic opening, classic juvenile humor. Hits a little less hard nowadays knowing people raised on this didn't catch the jokes within the jokes. But still enjoyable, and my name is will always be amazing.
3
Apr 14 2025
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At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Vibes album. You can absolutely tell why filmmakers fell in love with this era. Oozes suave and you can almost see the cigar smoke. What an album to relax to.
4
Apr 15 2025
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Purple Rain
Prince
Great album. Has all the best Prince songs. Bop all the way through.
4
Apr 16 2025
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American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
Interesting album. Obviously Hurt is amazing, but otherwise I mostly take the original versions over Johnny's. Which isn't shocking. But real mellow and real relaxing, good to have around.
3
Apr 18 2025
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Planet Rock: The Album
Afrika Bambaataa
Not really my jam, but can see the grooves and the influence
2
Apr 21 2025
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Parachutes
Coldplay
Look....not a Coldplay fan, but I understand why people like them. Just doesn't do much for me for the most part. Can see the talent, nice background music, not worth playing again imo.
2
Apr 22 2025
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The Next Day
David Bowie
Pretty standard David Bowie album. Really good rock that jumps around. Only one real banger imo (You Will Set the World on Fire), but all was decent.
3