Feb 04 2025
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The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
It's been a long time since I last listened to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but I can't help feeling like its shine has dulled a little since its release. There's undoubtedly some great tracks in here, but I was never a big fan of audio skits and dialogue that was so prevalent in this era of Hip Hop and RnB, as I find it just breaks the flow of the music.
3
Feb 05 2025
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Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Reggae is a genre I've never been totally hot on, but this is very listenable. Was already very familiar with 'No Woman, No Cry', but it doesn't overshadow the rest of the album which surprised me. Probably helps that its sandwiched by two good songs in 'Lively Up Yourself' and 'Them Belly Full' which helps set the tone for the record.
3
Feb 06 2025
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
I've always had a bit of mixed relationship with Pink Floyd in that whilst I love Dark Side and a fair chunk of The Wall, they've never properly clicked outside of that. Wish You Were Here kind of exemplifies that for me as across the 5 tracks there are some really strong moments, but equally there's stuff in here that just doesn't quite land for me.
For me Wish You Were Here really shines in its opening and closing tracks. I really love how these tracks meander between genre, opening the album in a more ambient mode before shifting into prog-rock and building anticipation for what's to come. There's a really great sense of progression and narrative that I think is lacking from stuff like Have a Cigar and the title track (which honestly I've always found a bit dull compared to other Pink Floyd tracks)
3
Feb 07 2025
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Aqualung
Jethro Tull
Actually surprised by how much I liked this. Feels like it's pulling in a bunch of different influences (jazz, folk, rock) and flows really nicely.
4
Feb 10 2025
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
The singles loom large on this one, and whilst Surrealistic Pillow is listenable I think much of the album pales in comparison to 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit'.
3
Feb 11 2025
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The Wildest!
Louis Prima
Just a really big, fun album. Feels almost cruel that this was picked for me on a Monday, because it really should be heard at maximum volume, at around 10pm after a succession of strong drinks
4
Feb 12 2025
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Rattlesnakes
Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
Just found this to be quite dull and one-note. Not bad, but also not especially good
2
Feb 13 2025
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My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Really not sure what I make of this. Feels quite backwards looking for a 70s rock record. Some decent tracks scattered across it (such as 'Waiting for the End of the World') but doesn't feel like its really deserving of a spot on this list outside of being Costello's debut
2
Feb 14 2025
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Abraxas
Santana
My familiarity with Santana is pretty much limited to 'Smooth' and a bit of a reputation as middle class dinner party music. And whilst, yes this album features that song from the M&S food ads (Samba Pa Ti), Abraxas surprised me by being closer to hard rock than I expected.
Overall I thought this was a pretty good time. A decent variety across the tracks and some really groovy numbers.
4
Feb 17 2025
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Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
This album still has so much energy despite being almost 70 years old. Really, really fun record
4
Feb 18 2025
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The White Album
Beatles
It'd been a long time since I'd properly listened to this album in full. Whilst there are some really great, even iconic songs on here, I do think it's a little let down by being a bit overlong and with a few too many tracks that just don't hit. I admire it's ambition, but probably one of the more inconsistent Beatles records (especially from this period of their career)
4
Feb 19 2025
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Felt Mountain
Goldfrapp
Don't think I'd ever heard this before. My main interaction with Goldfrapp is the album Black Cherry, which leans much more towards electro-pop. Was surprised how this felt much more in keeping with trip-hop with a far mellower, laid back sound. Unfortunately I think that does kind of show it to be a bit lacking compared to the more chill electronica acts of the time. Felt Mountain is a nice, pleasant album, but it doesn't feel remarkable when you consider the likes of Air, Portishead, etc
3
Feb 20 2025
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Surprised I'd not come across this before. Really fun jazz record with some great grooves. Time just flew by listening to this and I was honestly tempted to just put in on a second time after listening.
4
Feb 21 2025
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The Rising
Bruce Springsteen
Despite considering myself a fan of Springsteen, The Rising was a disappointment. Felt like a pale imitation of his better work. I do appreciate that maybe at the time this was a record that a lot of people needed, but I can't help but find it lyrically quite inert and musically dull.
2
Feb 24 2025
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Play
Moby
Heavily front loaded with the big singles. Was surprised by how much this petered out by the end as it shifts completely to downtempo chill. Also feels like every song is twice as long as it needs to be. By the time you've heard half of a track you've pretty much heard everything it has to offer.
I can't deny it's impact and influence (both positive and negative) which certainly earns it a spot on this list but returning to Play was kind of eye-opening in how empty it actually is
2
Feb 25 2025
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Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
It'd been a while since I last listened to Lost In The Dream and glad that it still holds up as a lovely, vibey record. Great for just putting on in the background and letting the music wash over you, but not noticeable enough to ever surprise.
I do understand why some people really love this, but I do wonder if it's quite distinct enough to really earn its spot here
3
Feb 26 2025
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Space Ritual
Hawkwind
Could not finish this. The production on this is dreadful. So many songs are just a muddy wall of noise with the few bright spots being when the bass cuts through, or they strip everything back to maybe one of two instruments.
1
Feb 27 2025
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This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
4
Feb 28 2025
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Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
This is one which might grow on me given time. As it stands there's some interesting ideas here and I appreciate the band trying to synthesise a bunch of different influences into their work, but it doesn't quite hang together as well as I'd have liked. Some good stuff in here, but it's definitely a little inconsistent.
3
Mar 03 2025
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People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest
4
Mar 04 2025
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Whilst I prefer Dylan when he goes electric, I can't deny that this is a really fantastic album.
4
Mar 10 2025
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We Are Family
Sister Sledge
I've never been a particular fan of Nile Rodgers' particular brand of disco - but it's deployed really effectively here. A really fun record with some very catchy, memorable tracks. There's a really infectious energy to the album and it just breezed by for me.
3
Mar 11 2025
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
4
Mar 12 2025
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Haunted Dancehall
The Sabres Of Paradise
A genuine surprise this. My familiarity with early Warp records is pretty low, but I thought this was great. Experimental without being inaccessible. Able to grab attention and also serve as decent background music.
4
Mar 13 2025
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Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Starts strongly, but quickly trails off as it hits a run of quite baffling covers. Ferry Cross the Mersey?! Born to Run?! An absolute pace killer
2
Mar 14 2025
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Trafalgar
Bee Gees
I'd never heard anything outside of the disco hits, so this was interesting, if not fully appreciated. I quite like the big, symphonic pop numbers, but there's some real misses here. 'When Do I?' was distracting with how odd the vocal performance is, and I didn't find it that interesting lyrically.
2
Mar 17 2025
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Pearl
Janis Joplin
3
Mar 18 2025
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
Was familiar with Them Bones due to it's inclusion on the GTA San Andreas soundtrack. Unfortunately that was never one of my favourite tracks and listening to Dirt has not won me over to Alice in Chains. A couple of interesting moments on here, and I can't deny there's something nostalgic about how painfully 90s it is. But it's all so one note and just becomes a bit of a slog to get through. After about 20 minutes I felt like I'd heard all I'd needed to.
2
Mar 19 2025
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Buffalo Springfield Again
Buffalo Springfield
3
Mar 21 2025
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You're Living All Over Me
Dinosaur Jr.
Dinosaur Jr have always been a bit of a blind spot despite their connection and genre similarities to other bands I love. I thought this was a pretty cool record. Good, fun noise. I liked it.
4
Mar 24 2025
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At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
4
Mar 25 2025
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War
U2
I've never really been into U2 and to be honest War did little to change my opinion on them. It's fine
2
Mar 26 2025
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Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
Thought this was a pretty good synth pop album. Sweet Dreams is the obvious standout here, but there were a few other tracks that I really enjoyed
3
Mar 27 2025
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Dog Man Star
Suede
I feel like this one needs a couple more listens to really get into. Some really interesting moments on this, particularly where it descends into noise - whilst the vocals I remain undecided on. Could see how this might be someone's obsession though
3
Mar 28 2025
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Entertainment
Gang Of Four
4
Mar 31 2025
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The Velvet Underground & Nico
The Velvet Underground
Honestly maybe it just hit at the right time, but this album was a real gateway for me into noisier, more experimental music. The first time I heard 'Venus in Furs' it was electrifying.
4
Apr 01 2025
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Station To Station
David Bowie
Probably one of my all time favourite records. For me this was the Bowie album that properly cemented my love of his music. My intro to Bowie was through a friend lending me the CDs one by one, and whilst I liked the earlier records I wasn't in love with them in the same way my friend was.
Until Station to Station.
That opening track hooked me immediately and the rest of the album was just a perfect continuation
5
Apr 02 2025
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McCartney
Paul McCartney
I can imagine for die hard fans these "sketches" of songs are interesting as a suggestion of what Paul McCartney would do as a solo artist, but for me this felt a little bit too inconsequential. A couple of decent melodies, but nothing here feels like it stands up as being amongst his best work.
2
Apr 03 2025
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Quiet Life
Japan
I was mainly familiar with David Sylvian through his work with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Fennesz, so this was a delightful surprise. Definitely feels like a step towards an 80s synth pop sound, but not quite fully formed
3