Jan 31 2025
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Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
I didn't really like it. But then again I'm pretty particular with music. Just like, the vocals weren't very good/special and also the guitar wasn't that interesting. Some of the more African influences were interesting. Wouldn't listen to again. Songs I liked most were Castles Made of Sand and Bold as Love (good instrumental last minute).
2
Feb 03 2025
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1984
Van Halen
So like, it's fine, lots of iconic songs on it like Hot For Teacher which are always a fun listen. But it's hard to listen to this album without the context of all the modern things I've heard. Some fun guitar riffs (Jimmy Legs) but I don't love the vocals at all
3
Feb 04 2025
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So
Peter Gabriel
This is the first one that I couldn't finish. And all the songs were like 6 minutes long, which is so long for repetition of like 3 phrases (musical and lyrical lol). Anyways, it felt like one of those movies that had so much potential but the execution was lacking.
1
Feb 05 2025
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Dire Straits
Dire Straits
I kind of liked it. Sort of passively listened so can't speak too much to it. But it had some nice instrumentals and a good swinging feel. Kind of corporate feeling after while though.
4
Feb 06 2025
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Highway to Hell
AC/DC
I mean, it's AC/DC, a classic! So yeah, it was good. But it's good because of the overall vibe they can get out of there songs. There wasn't any specific really interesting musical parts or anything. IDK if I'd listen the the whole album again but random songs off of once in awhile are always welcome.
4
Feb 07 2025
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Aja
Steely Dan
This is one I really wanted to like but it just didn't do it for me. There were some interesting musical phrases but as a whole a but disjointed for me. Would like to go back and relisten though. I think the first track was most interesting.
3
Feb 10 2025
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Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
This one was interesting, I think I liked it. Really like the instrumental mix and unique rhythm sounds. One I would like to listen to again though. And some of the line longer songs seem to stretch on with too little variation. Anyways, would listen to again.
4
Feb 11 2025
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1999
Prince
Started strong with 1999 so I was like oh this will be a good one. But wow some of the songs are so long and a bit repetitive so the whole thing isn't a five. But would listen again. Appreciate the percussion and brass in some of the songs.
4
Feb 12 2025
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Want Two
Rufus Wainwright
Didn't give this a 1 because there were some interesting instrumental parts and a few solid grooves. However, wow, I hate his "singing." I get trying to have a unique sound but he doesn't have the resonance in his voice to pull off those long notes. Also you cannot have an 8 minute long song where you only repeat one phrase over and over again. It's not interesting, even if the background music changes and even worse like in this album where it doesn't.
2
Feb 13 2025
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Henry's Dream
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
This was another one where lyrically it was pretty boring. There were some really interesting instrumental phrases though. His singing style and voice seemed to work best in songs like Loom of the Land.
3
Feb 14 2025
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Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
This was another one that was hard for me to listen to without comparing or seeing it through the lens of all the music I've listened to. Like there were so many better punk acts even at that time so I'm not sure I really get it. But anyways, there were some great guitar parts and a few of the songs established a good groove. The lyrics and singing were very punk (but that didn't make them interesting and not super repetitive). Anyways, had to give it a 3 for the instrumentals, but overall wouldn't listen to again (would go to a show though, would probably be a vibe). Most overall successful song was Get it On.
3
Feb 17 2025
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Coat Of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
I mean, pretty solid. Nice and short, some good narrative songs and the classic Dolly voice. Would listen again, not a fave.
4
Feb 18 2025
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The Suburbs
Arcade Fire
They do have a very nostalgic sound, but that didn't make to interesting. Just nothing that pulled me in lyrically or instrumentally.
1
Feb 19 2025
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
Wow, what a mixed bag. You had some moments with great riffs, interesting key changes, and a diverse instrument riff. Then you have other songs where they're just noodling for 12 minutes. Anyways, the things that were good were so good. Loved the opening track, such a solid gritty riff to keep coming back to with great instrumental bits mixed in. Nice jazz influences. Great key change in Epitaph. Would almost go 5, but some things were pushed just a bit far or a bit repetitive. But I actually enjoyed this one and relistened to a good bit of it.
4
Feb 20 2025
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Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
I did like a lot of the instrumental bits of this. Some of the straight instrumental tracks were a bit long and repetitive. The vocals were not my favorite but only really bothered me on a few songs. Overall, they have some tracks that have a good vibe but not a peak album.
3
Feb 21 2025
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Bad
Michael Jackson
I feel like I can't objectively review this album because it's just so nostalgic. But yeah, it's pretty much a hit. Solid music, what more can I say
4
Feb 24 2025
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3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
A fun listen with good vibes. Would listen again.
4
Feb 25 2025
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Grace
Jeff Buckley
Idk, I wasn't blown away. Listened to it again to see if I was missing anything, but there wasn't much that stood out musically, instrumentally, or lyrically. Solid Hallelujah cover though.
2
Feb 26 2025
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
Overall not too much of a stand out to me. Like it was a nice vibe to listen to, but wouldn't actively listen again (background music). But too much repetition and similar song structures across the album to be super interesting.
Piano in A Place Called Home and layered vocals nice (contrast with lyrical and spoken word). Probably the best track on the album for me in terms of vocal and instrumental interest and variety.
3
Feb 27 2025
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Vauxhall And I
Morrissey
This one was fine, even had a nice nostalgic vibe at times, but there was nothing musically, lyrically, or vocally that really stood out.
2
Feb 28 2025
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Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Wilco
Glad that I went back to this one with good headphones, it helped a lot. This bumped The album from a 2 to a 3. There were some good things, like an interesting use of non-instruments as instruments. However, the vocals for the most part were not good and overall there was quite a bit of repetition that was boring. Still a pretty mid album.
3
Mar 03 2025
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Band On The Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
I wasn't expecting to like this one, but it was a surprise standout! Of course I'm a sucker for a larger instrument mix and they did a lot with it! Seamless integration of some nice brass and wind instruments with more traditional guitar and kit. The vocals were also surprisingly good. Some nice little harmony bits with other members and solid lead vocals. Just a lot of really talented writing in this album. Would listen again.
Lots of great instrumental inclusion, from the deep bass lines grounding Jet, the little sax interludes in Bluebird, the sax weaving in with the snappy bass lines of Mrs. Vanderbilt, the meandering wind interlude in Picasso's Last Words introducing the key change and the strings leading us into the end, the jaunty piano carrying us through 1985.
5
Mar 04 2025
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25
Adele
This one was not my favorite style. Decently interesting vocals but little instrumental/musical interest. Also just not my favorite vocal style, reaching for the notes a bit. Overall, didn't enjoy it overly so as it was a bit bland and formulaic, but understand its place on the list as it was such a landmark culturally at the time. Probably wouldn't listen again.
2
Mar 05 2025
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Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg
The beats on this are undeniable, just great at making a groove. Some interesting mix of instruments in the background with the groove (like was that a pan flute hiding in the background of The Shiznit and the whole Gz and Hustlas). Lyrics could be improved, but
4
Mar 06 2025
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Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
This one was great! A jazz feel that was more produced, which I appreciate. Some really interesting instrumentals. Would listen again.
Favorites: Minawa, Maseru, Marsha
Least Favorites: Blues for Huey, Ingoo Pow-Pow
4
Mar 07 2025
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Pelican West
Haircut 100
Okay, this album KILLS me because the instrumental writing is sooooo good (especially in beginning of album). Engaging, great rhythm and variety of instruments. But then the vocals absolutely ruin it and take it to some sad pop world. Would be much improved without vocals in my opinion lol. Anyways, without vocals I would give it a 4 but they brought it down to a 3 for me.
There were some really nice groovy instrumental bits. The marimba and brass in Love Plus One dancing over the groove laid down, bongo and winds in Lemon Firebrigade followed by fun brass fanfare.
3
Mar 10 2025
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
A fun album with great grooves. Great sax in The Reason I'm Not Pleasing You, great piano in So Long, whistling in Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Appreciated it, would listen again though it could be difficult to match to the appropriate mood/setting.
4
Mar 11 2025
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
Nothing really stood out to me on this album. The vocals weren't very interesting and the instrumental arrangements were a bit tame to be truly interesting. All in all, didn't hate it, but didn't really like it. Pale Blue Eyes probably best track on album.
3
Mar 12 2025
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Paris 1919
John Cale
This was one that didn't stand out as spectacular in any real aspect. Paris 1919 was a standout though. The brass and strings chanting out the beat broken down into a winds and strings chorale. Good writing and execution. Other tracks were forgettable or even unlistenable (Macbeth).
3
Mar 13 2025
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American Idiot
Green Day
It's so hard for me to keep reviews of albums like these objective because they have such a strong place in time and are so nostalgic. That being said, I think it still holds up. Sure some songs are longer than they need to be and there is some meandering in the lyrics but it still hits.
Jesus of Suburbia has a nice little breakdown in there, would have been stronger cut at the halfway point after the little I don't care interlude (though the little somewhere over the rainbow interlude shortly after it's nice too). Don't love how there are a lot of split songs as a lot of these are really strong with one and not as strong with the other (looking at you Give Me Novacaine/Rebel Girl) and would be nice to not have to have both.
4
Mar 14 2025
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Chelsea Girl
Nico
Such a different voice, don't love it as it just feels so affected, like someone trying to pronounce Shakespeare "correctly" and just wrecking it as a result. It's quite rough in some songs like The Fairest of the Season while others like These Days it sounds more natural and less of an affectation. Little Sister the backing winds and winds make her voice seem flat in comparison. Winter Song has some nice instrumental parts. Writing of It Was a Pleasure Then was too meandering for me with no structure, did feel a lot like a pretentious "art piece" that's supposed to be impactful but doesn't have substance. Melody of I'll Keep You With Me is quite nice (vocals are weakest part of that one).
Okay but also I feel like I'm at a Ren Faire the entire time (could be good or bad I guess). Anyways I guess there could be a time or place for this to be a vibe but it's overall not too worthy of consideration.
1
Mar 17 2025
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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Pretty solid, more musical than I expected with some nice guitar bits. Love the melodic guitar backing riffs in Remember Tomorrow. The staccato interlude followed by sweeping guitar and marching repeating riffs then a tempo and style change in Phantom of the Opera is great writing. Overall I wanted to be more blown away by this album than I was but I would still happily listen to again and think it's a great inclusion for the history and significance.
4
Mar 18 2025
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
Had to give this one 4 just cause the singing style isn't a fave/not as polished as expected. The writing on this album is great though! Every track has a unique groove and some interesting instrumentals. The percussion in Soul Love punctuated by the brass and the sax interludes, the piano in Moonage Daydream holding everything down plus the lovely winds and brass interlude with the long, hypnotic guitar finish of the song. In Starman it's the stretching vocals that stand out while in Rock and Roll Suicide the guitar and brass ensemble really brings it all together. Would listen again, good writing.
4
Mar 19 2025
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The Joshua Tree
U2
Sorry, but no. I know people hate Bono but somehow the vocals are the most interesting thing happening in these songs. You cannot have 5-7 minute songs when the "instrumentals" are just one musical phrase repeated over and over again. Every single song would be improved by being 20% shorter. Bullet The Blue Sky is the only song approaching decent, it had some more variation on instrumentals with the opening and interludes. But it is also kinda ruined by the long noodling at the end (would call a relisten if it finished around 3:30). Would not listen again.
1
Mar 20 2025
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Scott 2
Scott Walker
Okay sorry but, this one gave the ick. Also the affectation of his voice is not enjoyable. There was such a divide on the vocals with the sweeping instrumentals. Anyways, not really a fan and really not that well written.
2
Mar 21 2025
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
This was fine, very pretty and decent vocal quality. Just repetitive and honestly boring after awhile (and so long). Great for background music, not much to keep me here as primary listening music though. Stay was the best track with the additional accompaniment interest.
2
Mar 26 2025
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Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
You know it's going to be a fun listen when the summary is basically like yeah this album existed.
Sure, I get it it's satire, but part of effective satire is about criticizing those in power. So no, this is not acceptable.
Other than that, I don't know what I'm supposed to be finding in this album. The vocals are nothing spectacular (they're arguably not good in most songs), most songs have a similar rhythm and instrument mix and nothing of great interest. Louisiana 1927 had more interesting instrumentals than the others and seemed to fit his vocal range okay. Will gladly never listen again.
1
Mar 27 2025
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Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
I honestly don't know how to rate this. On the first listen I was like eh it's pretty generic. But then I listened a second time and was really drawn in by some of the background elements. But overall, nothing spectacular stood out to me. They kind of all sounded the same. I keep listening to it and my brain keeps refusing to acknowledge that these are indeed 11 different songs. Anyways, it could be a vibe for certain situations, I think the first track was the best, not great and not terrible so I guess it gets a 3.
3
Mar 28 2025
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
I don't think I can look at this objectively at all, it's just so tied to it's context and like my first real deep dive into rap. That being said, I can't help but love it. I mean it has 97 Bonnie and Clyde, Guilty Conscience, My Name Is, some solid hits. The sheer lyrical gymnastics that he can do are amazing. And he's just great at making some infectious beats. I don't hate the content either especially in light of the more recent work he's put out. I think it works in terms of an album written as Slim Shady. Is it his best album? No, but it still holds up and I can still happily listen to it all the way through.
5
Mar 31 2025
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Overall, the whole album is a vibe. Some nice instrumentation and a classic feel. Not my preferred style, but there are definitely some hits. The instrumental songs in the expanded version are more interesting than any of the other tracks though lol. I keep trying to actively listen but the songs just slide off my brain and before I know it, the album is over. Pleasant listen though.
4
Apr 01 2025
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
This is another one that's hard to evaluate without comparing to other groups that have come after that I prefer. But definitely a great album. Vocal style is not my favorite but they keep the instrumentals so engaging that I don't even mind.
The building intro of Blackened with the guitar solo interludes in the middle, the entirety of ... And Justice for All, great contrast of the bass lines with the guitar in Eye of the Beholder with some great tempo changes, the lyrical guitar at the beginning of One with the kit coming in in stages and just the layering of the guitar lines in that one, that nice fall and rise of guitar punctuated by the bass in The Shortest Straw, that insane building opening of Harvester of Sorrow, the scales in the background of The Frayed Ends of Sanity matched with the driving bass line, the lyrical opening of To Live is to Die interrupted by the driving bass lines then overlaid with more soaring guitar lines and a nice stripped down interlude in the middle and how it opens back up when the kit is added back in and then the reverse of the opening ending lyrical guitar again. Anyways, some really great writing.
5
Apr 02 2025
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Oedipus Schmoedipus
Barry Adamson
The problem with movie scores is that they enhance the visual experience, but are often incredibly dull without that context. I would say this album falls into that category.
1
Apr 03 2025
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The Scream
Siouxsie And The Banshees
I honestly just really hated the vocals so so much. Listened through and there were some interesting vocal parts, but nothing spectacular.
2
Apr 04 2025
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Antichrist Superstar
Marilyn Manson
Somehow they made a metal group where the vocals do most of the work and guitar is background so that's wild. Again, this one is hard to judge with all the metal groups since this time that have done similar things but so much better. Also I can't appreciate The Beautiful People because it's been so overplayed for years. But all in all a solid album with some good jams. And it was definitely iconic in it's time.
Some nice instrumental things though even with vocals being the focus. Nice stompy cut in the middle of Irresponsible Hate Anthem and awesome clanging riffs, nice closing beat and stripped down instrument mix in Dried Up, Tourniquet is the best track on this album with the contrast and those nice stretchy guitar features, love the cut to just vocals in Deformography though, Wormboy is so enticing with the beat switch ups and off-beat rhythms, the filthy opening of Kinderfeld and just the effects of the whole song, the bongos in Minute of Decay, those great breakdowns in The Reflecting God.
Omg those NIN influences especially in Deformography though lol.
Was torn between a 3 and 4 but listening on good headphones pushed it to a 4. Lots of interesting nuances that get lost in poor speakers. And I would listen again with no complaint. Also would totally vibe at one of their shows.
4
Apr 09 2025
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At Fillmore East
The Allman Brothers Band
This one feels like you almost had to be there. Like this would be vibes in person but the magic doesn't translate to the recording. Songs seemed to drag on a bit. Some really interesting instrumental bits though. And honestly all of You Don't Love Me was solid. Would like to do a closer listen to analyze more specific parts.
3
Apr 10 2025
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Blunderbuss
Jack White
I don't know how to feel about this album because some songs are the perfect mix of like jazz/bluegrass and punk and rap and then other songs are not good. Like the vocals trying to good vocals aren't great but when he embraces the more rap style delivery it's successful. Highlights were the beats in most of the songs, just bops. Some excellent instrumental bits too. I think I liked it though and I'd even go as far as to say it was good overall.
4