Feb 18 2025
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Get Behind Me Satan
The White Stripes
The frist track, Blue Orchids reminds me of solething familiar and as everything familiar it's quite pleasant. I kow the name White Stripes but it's not what I have in mind, then I realize the duo guitar_drums I am thnking about was made of two bloke, it stirkes me: it's the not the WHite Wtripes but the Black Keys I am thinking about. And I knw why I know the White Stripes: their previous hit THE SEVEN NATION ARMY with its signature bass guitar line.
In overall the second listening of this album is not bad a quick glimpse at the texts reveals a diversity of themes with a not too shallow approach. The vocals are nice. Some tracks could have benefited a better orchestration.
3
Feb 19 2025
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Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Having listened quite my share of Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Neil Young's Havest in my days, I was surprised to have absolutely no love for this album. One listening of this album is enough for me today as I even have too much of Neil's voice.
2
Feb 20 2025
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Club Classics Vol. One
Soul II Soul
I was really worried at the beginning as I identified the album as RnB (that has little in common with "rhytme and blues", which I have more than disdain for. The singers spend to much time listening to their vocalizes with no real purpose of melody. That's only my point of view. But then I felt the Trip hop vibes even recognized two tracks, the hit back to life and jazzy Groove. So I managed to get through all the album without too much suffering and even pleasure sometimes. I won't do it agaoin though. What I like is thtat for me it's the big brother /sister of the coming troip hp of the 90's British scene : Massive Attack, Sugar Cubes, Morcheeba (that I once saw live in Beijing in 2002), tricky and a lots of Ninja Tunes. But's it's always better with a real drum !
1
Feb 21 2025
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Electric
The Cult
Not my cup of tea. Seems dull often. I liked the first track though, reminds me of teh very 80's Billy Idol.
2
Feb 24 2025
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Guero
Beck
3
Feb 25 2025
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Is This It
The Strokes
Not bad. Goo dintentions, A bit tiring in the end
3
Feb 26 2025
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All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Sorry Georges, but it bored me.
2
Feb 27 2025
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Nice to hear. Started with a reggae song ! Well I 've always been quite fond of Simon's early solo songs.
3
Feb 28 2025
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Bowie - together with Lennon, Mack Cartney and Neil Young - is at the top of the 1001 albums list with 9 albums to his name without even counting the 2 Iggy Pop that he produced taht are also in this list, so we must get used to encounter some of his records.
As a fan of his early period but this album isn't really my favourite. I still do love Mick Ronson's fat overdrived guitars that would pave the way to the coming age of punk rock. It's another album with reference to the stardom (of " A lad Insane"), with it's etheral vocal that almost disappear behind the piano solo. Jean Genie, the hit about Iggy Pop and (Jean Genet) is poping out.
Well I mainly like and remember those two titles.
4
Mar 03 2025
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
4
Mar 04 2025
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The Doors
The Doors
My late teenage days... and beyond... Some songs are less apealing now -Break on through for instance) but despite having heard them too much I stil believe it's a reat album.
4
Mar 05 2025
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This Year's Model
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I love the guy, always fun and still there... And i had always like the Pump it up song, lyrics are nice too, but nothing really stands out here. 3 is my sympathy vote.
3
Mar 06 2025
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Bandwagonesque
Teenage Fanclub
The Beatles! "get out of this band! I summon you". Iwas expecting to hear "number 9" spoken in the mliddle of "SATAN" and could have sworn hearing Paul Mc Cartney in "what you do to me", so I particulary liked the harmonies and the fact that they married well with distorded guitars.
3
Mar 07 2025
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Signing Off
UB40
A very nice surprise!
I had the memory of a cheesy fake reaggae music from the 80's (think "Red red Wine" or "I got you babe"). Since then I lived in London in the 90's where I discovered a vibrant dub scene. It was a time where jazz, rock, dub, trip hop and all you could see a lot of venues musicians playing along Dj's. So I got to like Dub as well (Aba Shanti)
With this is mind this album feels like a precusor and I really enjoyed the band vibes it has. I mean the album really sound like a nice jam session. So I'll give a 4, for the "historical milestone" which is maybe a tad more than it deserves.
4
Mar 10 2025
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Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
I love thiis kind of nice blues songs but some of them such as Bad Moodn Rison, LOdi or Cross tie are too "country music" for me.
3
Mar 11 2025
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At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
Mixed feeling. I like the guy, I like his overall work but clearly this album doesn't do him justice. It's very short for a start, with a song that is played twice. Not the best material from Cash, a part from the famous "walk the line", but then again, the audio is crap.
It's interesting though that he chose to do concerts in these tough prisons, long before Bertrand Cantat ;-p. I love the speech with sentences like "can you pass me the book with all the songs I stole" or a bit far fetched :"you kow they wanted me to do this songs aand that.. but no, Me, I want t do wat I want and what you want so.. Walk the line".
Wanted man is Quite a nice song
St Quentin. It's a nice touch to make a song specialy for them and it was ppreciated. But twice the same short song...
A Boy named Sue, Great story, it coyld be made in a short moovie or a comic. The song was first sang on this concert, reading the lyrics on a paper as the band improvised.
At the end what I was most disapointed about was that we can't hear - as often lives by the likes of the Beatles at the same period - the girls screaming. ;-p
3
Mar 12 2025
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Here, My Dear
Marvin Gaye
I'ts not my cup of tea. Even mwith nice harmonies here and there, I have the impression that thes osnga are a continuois moaning with sometimes multiples voices. Get a room!
More seriously, I love "I heard it through the grapvines" from MG, but it seems he's the reason why we have now generatuon of R&B moaning too.
So just personal taste. It's a 1 for me.
1
Mar 13 2025
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Basket of Light
Pentangle
Interesting finding. Iwas suprised by he medieval etheral vocals that reminded me of the 4AD's Dead Can Dance and Cocteau Twins. It resnates as well with folk music we have here in Brittany and the 70's folk revival under the helm of Harpist, bombard and bagpipie player Alan Stivel. It also resonates with the classic Greensleeves or Scarbporough Fair.
Above all, I found the album pleasing to my ears.
3
Mar 14 2025
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A Walk Across The Rooftops
The Blue Nile
Quite 80, reminded me of Peter Gabriel and Talk Talk. I don't know what to say except that the author of the 1001 selection must be Scot since it's the second Scottish unedr the radar band that we hear. It's like I'd put Tri Yann the best of in my 1001 selection.
Now back to the album. It's not bad and I did like to listen to it But I will forget it soon and probably won't think it again ever. Good effort though.
3
Mar 17 2025
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Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
A great album and a long tiume favourite of mine. The beginning of the use of synths. I give it a 5 for its milestone status.
5
Mar 18 2025
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Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Probably not my favourite Bob Marley, but notable for being the one that made reggae famous. I give a 4 out of sympathy as some titles are not as good as the others.
4
Mar 19 2025
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Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Really not my cup of tea.
1
Mar 20 2025
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Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
3
Mar 21 2025
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
4
Mar 24 2025
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Fragile
Yes
Not easy listening, not difficult either. Can and Brahms is just out of place ;-p, five per cent is juste experimental. In general while I like the instrumentals I can't help but feel that the vocals lacks presence.
3
Mar 25 2025
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Moving Pictures
Rush
3
Mar 26 2025
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Black Metal
Venom
Surprisingly listenable. How scared I was when the first lrycis were sung! and then I realised I liked the "Black Metal" ending with the growling voice.
I don't think I'll do it again, but good effort! 20 titles!
3
Mar 27 2025
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Another Green World
Brian Eno
Good effort. There's something. Undeniably. But I just can't find it entertaining.
2
Mar 28 2025
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Countdown To Ecstasy
Steely Dan
Just can't remember what I listened yesterday. Forgettable.
2
Mar 31 2025
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
4
Apr 01 2025
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Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
2
Apr 02 2025
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(What's The Story) Morning Glory
Oasis
Well, it does get the "Proust's madeleine" job strolling me along (nice) memory lane when I lived in London during "Cool Britania" Tony Blair' s time.
But this album didn't age gracefully and only the hit Wonderwall still rings nice to the ears. I give it a 3 rather than a 2 only for history. Today I am sure I'd vote Tony BLUR!
3
Apr 03 2025
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Damaged
Black Flag
A harcore fan of punk but not a fan of hardcore punk. I grew adolescent with punk rock, the Buzzcocks, the Cramps, the Sex Pistols, The Clash, the Gen X, even "les Beeru", but never heard of them... And I hear nice things here and there in this album, but it's mainly boring and noisy to me. Talk about growing old ;-p.
Yet I'd give a few points here to recognize the influence it could have had on one of my favourite the Toy Dolls, especially when singing in choir (yes, yes I hear it at times)
2
Apr 04 2025
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Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
4
Apr 07 2025
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Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
I just can't be objective as far as Led Zep is concerned. Yet I only give a 4 on this one because of the 3 or even 4 other albums that deserve a 5.
The direction here is more folk. Yet I still regard "Since I been loving" you a masterpiece solo (slow) blues, and oh just to follow "Out on the tiles"! Well it' still a great album with these 4 guys always contributing equally a great deal.
4
Apr 08 2025
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Elephant
The White Stripes
A lot of nice songs with great guitars. Much better than Get behind me Satan.
4
Apr 09 2025
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Third
Portishead
3
Apr 10 2025
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Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
Nice voice, a few nice blues songs, but nothing that much outstanding. Did I miss something? (apart from the stylish cover?) grin.
2
Apr 11 2025
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The Only Ones
The Only Ones
Surpsingly good. Who said punk rock allowed non-musician to make music?
3
Apr 14 2025
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
4
Apr 15 2025
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Blonde On Blonde
Bob Dylan
I 've always though Dylan was way overated. I even went to see him about 15 years ago in Beijing and hos total lack of generosity toward the public made me dislike him too as a person. Well what he's recognised for is songwriting, poetry (not sure his litterature Nobel prize is deserved though, but Ombama got the Nobe Peace...). And he sure does write some very good texts. Some very good songs too. Look: All along the watch towers (Hendrix made me love this song), Like a rolling stone, Knok on a Heaven's door.. great songs when they are played by others.
Because what I am not found of is his orchestration and his voice (and his ego). Songs like I want you is nice, because the melody is backed by the guitar; taking over where the voice should.
I won't listen the whole album again.
Well a bit harsh on the monument, but only because it was built too high in my opinion.
2
Apr 16 2025
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Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey
Sruprisingly not that bad, just not very memorable. I guess the songwriting is the key here and the texts are quite good.
2
Apr 17 2025
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Punishing Kiss
Ute Lemper
3
Apr 18 2025
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Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
NOt bad, quite fun , relaeased that same year Doc Gyneco realeased his first album
3
Apr 21 2025
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21
Adele
Its not Amy Winhouse but I like these British Soul voices like Dusty Spingfield. I did not listened too much beacuse of the WE though.
3
Apr 24 2025
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
A harcore Pixies fan since day one, I love this album with its mix of energy and noisy sounds that never forget the melody layer. Yet, despite the iconic Where is my mind, their 3 following albums are better in my opinion.
4
Apr 28 2025
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Parachutes
Coldplay
Very good start from Coldplay. Preparing "A rush" which I feel i s a bit better produced. Anyway I had always listened to this albums without distinction. Very nice for a Monday morning.
4
Apr 29 2025
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A Hard Day's Night
Beatles
A solid Classic overheard so much time with yet underestimated titles such as You can't do that. I remember the feeling of deja vu when I heard Kurt Cobain's (great accoustic) cover of and I love her. That's because although these song aged with maybe vocals "tto clean" and theme still mainly about teens' love.
4
Apr 30 2025
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Paul's Boutique
Beastie Boys
Not the novelty that was Licensed to Ill with it's "Rage Against the Machine" punk vibes, it stays as a milestone defining the NY Hip Hop Scene. But that was the album before Money Mark..
3
May 01 2025
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The Stranger
Billy Joel
Billy Joel seems a farce, I’ll never listen to one of his song again the same way after seeing the serie The Boys. 😂
3
May 02 2025
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Rubber Soul
Beatles
4
May 05 2025
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(Pronounced 'Leh-'Nérd 'Skin-'Nérd)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Great songs !
4
May 06 2025
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Deep Purple In Rock
Deep Purple
4
May 07 2025
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Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
It pains me to praise another time a no musician album but these guys do have the gnack for music. I bought this disc in the early 2000's and haven't stopped liking it.
4