Feb 10 2025
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Dirt
Alice In Chains
That INTRO hits so hard. Way to grab your attention in the first three seconds. I do find Layne Staley's voice a little whiney and nasaley though.
3
Feb 11 2025
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Surrealistic Pillow
Jefferson Airplane
* Favorite song: Embryonic Journey
* From the days where you could pan all the drums to one side and guitars to another. Everything is drenched in reverb. Really a product of its time from a production standpoint.
* Some really hokey songs in here (My Best Friend)
* White Rabbit doesn't fit with the vibe of the rest of this record. It's so jarring compared to the easy-going folksiness of the rest, except maybe Go To Her. It feels like an experiment, which perhaps it was in its day. Full disclosure - I have never liked this song. It goes on the list of "Songs I've had enough of in this lifetime"
* Definitely enjoy Grace Slick's vocal performances.
3
Feb 12 2025
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Here Are the Sonics
The Sonics
WAAAAAAOOOOOW
Favorite song - Have Love Will Travel
Never heard of this band before. Sounds like old The Who. The end of the record got a bit repetitive and jangly for my liking, but I did enjoy the garage rock vibes. This band was contemporary with Jefferson Airplane, but where JA's sound helped pave the way for psychedelic rock and folk rock, The Sonics paved the way for punk, garage rock, and later grunge (they were from Tacoma after all)
3
Feb 13 2025
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The Trinity Session
Cowboy Junkies
Favorite song: Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis)
The Trinity Session is going straight to my get-it-on-vinyl list. Great vibes. Love the western feel without being "country". The covers are great too - Elvis would be proud. 5 stars, no notes.
5
Feb 14 2025
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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
Favorite Song: Candle In The Wind and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
There are a lot of melodies here that I couldn't tie to a song until now. Still, the overall jangliness of the piano rock feels dated and many of these songs are just played out. The first half of the record feels stronger and more distinct than the latter half. That said, I can see why this song has 1.5 billion streams. It is solid and goes down easy.
4
Feb 17 2025
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Master Of Puppets
Metallica
Favorite Track: The Thing That Should Not Be
At the intersection of metal, punk, and hardcore, there's thrash. Some of these tracks sprawl past the 8min mark, with many movements and complex arrangements. It's refreshing to see an album with only a few well-fleshed-out songs. With 8 tracks and a total runtime of 54:52, this is not a record designed to do well on streaming. Slick licks, tight production, and lots of classical inspiration giving more than one would hope for in a "close reading" of the album, I don't see anything not to like.
5
Feb 19 2025
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Favorite Track:
These guys sure know their way around a catchy chord progression. Still not my cuppa. The energy level does not advance past a mid-morning yawn.
2
Feb 20 2025
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The Joshua Tree
U2
Boring, pass.
1
Feb 21 2025
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
Favorite Track: Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)
Great cover of LTGTR. Some duds later in the album but overall an unfiltered and raw Jimi Hendrix experience.
4
Feb 28 2025
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Stripped
Christina Aguilera
Meh. I like Fighter, but I think there are others who do this style better.
2
Mar 04 2025
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The Queen Is Dead
The Smiths
I see now why The Smiths are the favorite of all my favorite high school bands
5
Mar 06 2025
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Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Favorite tracks: Sure Shot & Flute Loop
Classic. Most of my favorite Beastie Boys songs are on this record. The odd punk songs are an awesome complement to the low fidelity production in the hip hop tracks.
5
Mar 07 2025
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461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
Great set of tracks. The Bob Marley version of I Shot The Sheriff is still the only one I need to hear though.
4