Feb 12 2025
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Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
One of my favourite albums of 2205, if not THE favourite. I am 100% the target audience for Sufjan's ex-youth group-kid, introspective, intricate yet twee songwriting.
I bought the CD my first trip to Chicago from Canada, and listened to it on the train all the way home.
5
Feb 13 2025
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War
U2
U2 were my absolute favourite band when I was in high school (in the 80s, when it was still cool to like U2).
All their early albums are classics to me.
5
Feb 14 2025
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
I got into hiphop a little too late to appreciate Wu-Tang Clan at its prime, but I do know this is a classic album, and it was great to listen to it in its entirety. Protect Ya Neck!
4
Feb 17 2025
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Moon Safari
Air
smooth chill vibes. Could be very soothing in the right context, but not so much my thing.
3
Feb 18 2025
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Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
I didn't realize how heavily orchestrated this album was. And of course Preacher Man is a classic song.
3
Feb 19 2025
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More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
Great to listen to an early album from one of my favourite bands. I think "Take Me to the River" has gotten faster in subsequent performances.
4
Feb 20 2025
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Bad
Michael Jackson
Oh, those 80s synth and drum sounds. MJ was a masterful entertainer, though, no denying it, and these are classic pop songs.
4
Feb 21 2025
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Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
Great to really listen to these classic rock tunes with focus, and be reminded of why they endure.
4
Feb 24 2025
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The Clash
The Clash
I listened to this album the day after Canada won the 4 Nations Hockey tournament, and I was, indeed, Bored with the USA. Great cathartic punk rock!
4
Feb 25 2025
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The Downward Spiral
Nine Inch Nails
A little intense to revisit this on a Monday morning at work, but also very cathartic! I immediately followed this up with the Johnny Cash version of Hurt, and was not disappointed.
4
Feb 26 2025
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The Infotainment Scan
The Fall
The Fall is a band I haven't really spent much time with, so it was good to give this album a focused listen. Some interesting tracks (Service, The League of Bald-Headed Men), but overall not so much my thing.
3
Feb 27 2025
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Movies
Holger Czukay
I had never heard of this guy (now I know he was in Can) and this album definitely sounds like a product of its time and place. I'm not really into this particular Euro-electronica, but I do appreciate the musique concrete nature of its composition, and I always like voice samples.
2
Feb 28 2025
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Dear Science
TV On The Radio
One of my favourite non-Canadian bands from the mid-2000s indie rock scene. Great to revisit this album.
4
Mar 03 2025
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The Atomic Mr Basie
Count Basie & His Orchestra
A masterclass in swing at any tempo. Fond memories of performing Splanky and L'il Darlin (and maybe Whirlybird?) with the BU Big Band.
4
Mar 04 2025
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading is a performer I haven't paid much attention to, and I was really impressed by this album. Great songwriting, funky grooves, and impeccable guitar chops.
5
Mar 05 2025
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Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
This album totally matched my mood on the day I listened to it: aggressive and taking no shit. PJ Harvey rocks.
4
Mar 06 2025
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They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
Noise rock is not so much my thing, so it's hard to evaluate this album objectively. It might be a great example of the genre, but I can't tell. I did like the bird sounds in the last track.
2
Mar 07 2025
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Be
Common
I really liked this. I've always thought I should listen to more Common, and now I know I should.
5
Mar 10 2025
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Aja
Steely Dan
Absolutely love this album. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen are consummate musicians, and Steely Dan doesn't deserve its dad/yacht rock reputation (if you consider that to be an insult, which I don't). Those chord progressions! Those session players! Wayne Shorter!
5
Mar 11 2025
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25
Adele
I mean, undeniably she has amazing pipes and these songs showcase them. It's not so much my thing, but it's a very well-done pop album and I salute that.
3
Mar 12 2025
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GREY Area
Little Simz
yeah yeah yeah this is the stuffffff
5
Mar 13 2025
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Jack Takes the Floor
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
classic blues (sung by a white guy) and folk songs, and even some yodeling. That's alright by me.
3
Mar 14 2025
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Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
My AM radio childhood is all coming back to me. No complaints--these are classic tunes. Also a good reminder of what an epic tune Crime of the Century is.
4
Mar 17 2025
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Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
A double album was a lot of Nick Cave for me, but there's definitely some good songwriting here.
3
Mar 18 2025
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xx
The xx
a little chill Brit electro-pop goes down well on a cloudy Monday morning.
4
Mar 19 2025
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Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
I didn't know what to expect from this, but it was really enjoyable. The band cooks! 3.5 stars, actually
3
Mar 20 2025
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
a little bombastic rock n roll and one of the best voices in music? All this AND Bohemian Rhapsody? Yes, please!
5
Mar 21 2025
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Vespertine
Björk
The early-to-mid 2000s are my favourite era of Bjork. Delicate electronica with that signature Bjork weirdness.
4
Mar 24 2025
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
Classic soul/R&B by a classic voice. Great to really focus on these tunes and appreciate the artistry here.
4
Mar 25 2025
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Zombie
Fela Kuti
The problem I have with Fela Kuti's music (and this genre of African music in general) is the repetitive aspect. I realize there's a meditative quality and intention to sitting a groove for a long time, but even if the band is great and has kickass horns, I don't want the same groove for 12 minutes. I acknowledge this is a "me problem," though.
3
Mar 26 2025
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Pretzel Logic
Steely Dan
I'm down for any Steely Dan album, anytime. Listening to this reminded me of how much an old boyfriend of mine loved the tune "Night by Night." And this is probably the only "rock" album to include a Duke Ellington tune.
5
Mar 27 2025
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Tonight's The Night
Neil Young
I think I respect Neil Young more than I actually like his music, but this album is a good example of why he deserves any music-lover's respect. Keep on rockin in the free world, Neil.
3
Mar 28 2025
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Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
No one plays the piano like Thelonious Monk, and this band is stacked. A classic album, and Bemsha Swing is a tune for the ages.
5
Mar 31 2025
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Imagine
John Lennon
I confess that I'm a bit sick of Imagine, but that's not the song's fault. On the other hand, I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier, Mama and How Do You Sleep are down and dirty jams.
4
Apr 01 2025
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Van Halen
Van Halen
RocknRollllllllll
4
Apr 02 2025
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Green
R.E.M.
I've got my spine, I've got my Orange Crush, I've got my early-20s angst reframed as nostalgia, and I'm not mad about it.
4
Apr 03 2025
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The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
oooweeeeOOOOO synth-y goodness. Eyeliner. Warily regarding a glowing pyramid. Caaaaaars.
3
Apr 04 2025
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
I mean, I know they were influenced by the skiffle trend in the UK at the time, so I really should have expected it, but I was still pleasantly surprised at how blues-y this first album is.
3