Feb 22 2025
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The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
Good, great arrangements and singing, but dusty sound. Particularly the drums sound strange, somewhat muffled. Hardly surprising fifty years after its release, but still. ****
4
Feb 23 2025
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Teen Dream
Beach House
Nice and mellow, but bland
This record was my seconds recommendation from the „One Album a Day“-Website, offering one record each from the 1001 you must hear before you die book.
I thought it was disappointing, and this wasn't owing to my expectations. The music doesn't hurt, but it doesn't do much for me either. It's all nice and mellow, but at the same time a bit boring and bland, as there's a lack of dynamics and expression. It's all pretty samey, midtempo and plenty of keyboards, not a lot of varation on offer.
Beach House certainly have a unique sound one easily recognizes, but that doesn't make for a great record. In other words, I wonder why „Teen Dream“ is part of the 1001-albums-collection. Maybe I wasn't listening close enough to the lyrics? ;-) However, any record on this list should be worthwhile in musical, not necessarily lyrical terms. With „Teen Dream“, I don't get it.
3
Feb 24 2025
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Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
The double set „Sign of the Times“ has an impressive cover design and met a massive media coverage upon release. I can tell, as I was witness.
Its music, however, is a mixed bag, I find. The record contains a bunch of excellent tracks, such as the title song, „I could never take the place of Your Man“, „Starfish & Coffee“ as well as „The Cross“, and it also represents Prince's signature sound, making it instantly recognizable. Unfortunately, it also contains a bunch of lenghty stomping and highly repetitive funk-disco-tracks, that I could certainly have done without.
A single LP would have been a better artistic choice and a much more satisfactory listening experience.
4
Feb 25 2025
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
No doubt, that „it“ started all with Elvis. Like no Beatles or Dylan without him. The music on his debut though is only partly what it promises. Sure, there are classics like „Blue Suede Shoes“, but there's also cheesy stuff and some rockabilly. Oh, well . . . it was the beginning of a great career and a tragic life, but it wasn't much fun to listen to. The songs sound really dated and the music dusty, like watching a silent black and white movie.
3
Feb 26 2025
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Heroes
David Bowie
„Heroes“ is totally enigmatic to me. When Brian Eno and David Bowie teamed up in the early seventies, they certainly set out to create something new. After all, this was the pre-computer and -digital era, and all those sound collages had to be done on analogue tape and keyboards on eight track tape (I guess). This I will acknowledge, and I guess, that's why this record was influential.
The result, however, is hard to listen to these days (2025): The album features spheric sounds on instrumentals like „Moss Garden“, instantly forgettable midtempo rock tracks such as „Joe the Lion“ and only one standout track, „Heroes“. To put it provocatively: I wonder why people adore drug related pieces of art so much?
2
Feb 27 2025
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Van Halen
Van Halen
Now that's more like my kind of record. Powerful music, catchy songs, a unique, instantly recognizable sound, amazing talent on guitar (Eddie) and drums (Alex van Halen) make for a great record. Van Halen's debut has been with me since its release, and while the songs are a bit uneven, I like to return to it to this day.
4
Feb 28 2025
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John Prine
John Prine
Musically a very traditional record. Country, folk, stuff like that, you name it. I guess, it must be all in the lyrics. Sarcastic detector off. Prine's voice wasn't particularly appealing, a bit throaty. Was it something special at the time of release in 1971? Possibly. Honestly: If so, I don't get it. One thing's for sure: I'm never going to listen to this record again. But hey – I tried. The good old American way: I'll try anything once.
2
Mar 01 2025
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Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Lovely, emotional, liked the Sax.
4
Mar 02 2025
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Odelay
Beck
Listening to this today reminded me of the reasons why I gave Odelay away years ago. I don’t like the fizzy guitar sound, neither the way Beck sings nor the occasional noise. I had bought the record based on the hype at the time, and I still don’t get what everyone’s raving about. At times I realize that fusing rock and hip hop maybe appealing, but that’s an abstract thought; I’m just not feeling anything when playing Odelay except a slight resistance and annoyance. I tried again and felt confirmed in my rejection.
2
Mar 03 2025
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For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
I own a vinyl copy which I never listen to. Checking in as part of the challenge reminded me why: This record is truely awful. The strand is okay, but then matters quickly worsen: The way guitar, keyboard and saxophone are playing against each other rather than together just annoys me. It’s probably meant to be experimental and ground breaking at the time, but today it’s a true torture. The only thing I like about this is the artwork - the cover is hot to this day.
2
Mar 04 2025
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
This record is downright awful from beginning to end, the only exception being „Where's my mind?“. Whats the point about out of tune singing and playing? I don't like producer Steve Albini's sound design anyway - the dry guitar sound in particular. It's good to be remembered why I sold this many years ago. The real question is: Why is this piece of trash part of the book? I strongly feel some editing is required.
1
Mar 05 2025
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25
Adele
After the last few records put my patience to a severe test, Adele's 25 is more up my alley. However, I would have picked 21, as I think the material is stronger, while 25 sounds like a continuing variation of its predecessor. Highlights include Hello, When We Were Young and Sweetest Devotion.
4
Mar 06 2025
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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
This wasn't as bad as expected. Behind the tender dissonances some melodies were to be detected. Surely innovative at the time of making. However, nothing I'm going to return to.
2
Mar 07 2025
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School's Out
Alice Cooper
It is ironic and strange to listen to a song like School's Out as a full grow adult. Obviously, I'm not exatly the target group anymore. I can relate, not exactly to the (simple) lyrics, but the energy of the music - there's a powerful riff underlying. Besides, one would have to admit that this is the only outstanding song on the record. If I remember correctly, it was also the major single success for Alice Cooper. The remaining tracks are nowhere close. In particular the sound is dusty, but this is hardly a surprise as the record was released 50 years ago, and recording technology has much improved since. I quite like the arrangement of the last track feat. brass, I guess owing to producer Bob Ezrin, who used similar sounding arrangements with other artists. So once again, I guess the recording was influential and groundbreaking at the time of release, but today it sounds dated and forgettable. I'm not going to listen to this again.
3
Mar 08 2025
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Blue Lines
Massive Attack
Pleasant, but not a fave. The openers are both standouts: „Unfinished Sympathy“ is key track on side 2, „Safe from Harm“ also good, opening side 1, while some of the other stuff is instantly forgettable. Massive Attack produce a unique sound, but there's too much MCing going on. I prefer singing. „Mezzanine“ is a much better album.
3
Mar 09 2025
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The Yes Album
Yes
A pleasant surprise, not as proggy as I thought it was going to be. Quite accessible, not overly complex, it did have a flow. Many solos, excellent guitar work. I liked the warm sound, but was puzzled by the mix, feat. some wild stereo effects. But I guess that's the way things were done in the early seventies, when this was released. Overall not a fave, but okay.
3
Mar 10 2025
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Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water
Limp Bizkit
Blend of metal and hip hop, different and innovative at the time, not my cup of tea. I like the flow, the energy, groove and riffing, however, not the singing, which often turns into angry shouting. Overall, the record is too long. Fewer songs would have been more and better. Only one stand out track, „Take a Look Around“, using the motive of „Mission Impossible“ - or was it the other way round?
3
Mar 11 2025
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Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
Very traditional. Certainly well sung and performed, but not my cup of tea.
2
Mar 12 2025
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Happy Trails
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Noodeling, noodeling, more noodeling - I guess you have to be high to enjoy this live recording. As if you get to listen to the same song over and over again. Yawn - incredibly monotonous, tiring and boring.
1
Mar 13 2025
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Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Good material, well written and arranged, nice and mellow, I'm just not too crazy about her voice. Been listening to this before, and couldn't make up my mind to buy it. Love the artwork, the contrast between the blue sky and the red fan.
3
Mar 14 2025
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The Slider
T. Rex
Glamrock, produced by Toni Visconti. Mildly entertaining. Instantly recognizable. Brings back early childhood memories. Ok, but it sounds old and dated.
3
Mar 15 2025
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Ramones
Ramones
I like bands than can play. The Ramones cannot, like most Punk bands. Their music sounds like the same song played over and over again. Simple, raw, but clumsy. It's hard to imagine that this record was considered hot and trendy at some point in time.
1
Mar 16 2025
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
Quite cool, loungy and elegant. Reminds me of Jamiroquai. Somewhat artificial and polished. Nothing I care much about, but well done.
3
Mar 17 2025
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The Genius Of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
The record sounded somewhat old and dated, but how can it not, as it was released 1959, more than 60 years ago. I do like the Big Band sound though, that Ray Charles provides, and his singing and playing. So despite the age issue, this record was quite enjoyable.
4
Mar 18 2025
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Violator
Depeche Mode
Not too crazy about their sound, but some of the songs are great.
4
Mar 19 2025
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
This has been a classic since I was 16 and it's part of my Top100 list. Bursting with energy. Not a single weak track. More structured and focused than it's predecessor „Born to Run“. Love it.
5
Mar 20 2025
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Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Great voice and I love their original material, not the covers so much (Before you accuse me). Grapevine should have been edited, it is way too long (11:00). Overall the record seems a bit confused and unfinished. I prefer the collection „Chronicles“.
4
Mar 21 2025
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Illmatic
Nas
With a few exceptions, rap records pretty much sound the same to me, which would also include this one. I can't deny the high ratings, so there must be something about it, but I just don't get it. Some of the samples were good in terms of interesting or original.
3
Mar 22 2025
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Interesting mix of hip hop and rock. Better than expected.
3
Mar 23 2025
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Selling England By The Pound
Genesis
Two great songs: I Know What I Like and The Cinema Show. Not enough to make for a great rating.
3
Mar 24 2025
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Aladdin Sane
David Bowie
Another record that sounds really dated. I'm sure it was out there at the time. 2 good songs: The title track and Jean Genie. The rest is left in right out.
3
Mar 25 2025
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Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Basic, solid rock stuff. Breakdown and American Girl are higlights. Tom grew enormously later on.
4
Mar 26 2025
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It's Blitz!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Cool Cover. The music is a bit uneven, at times wild. Maybe this needs a few spins to get into it. Not a big fan of producer Nick Launay's sound design in general, but this one's okay.
3
Mar 27 2025
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
High expectations, but the music didn't reach me. It was kind of elusive, some soloing, not a lot of structure to be noticed. With my headphones on, it sounded as if they played in front of 30 people. Knowing nothing about Evans, I thought it should been packed.
3
Mar 28 2025
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The Message
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Certainly unique or different in its musical approach, but nothing I care much about.
3
Mar 29 2025
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Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
Once again, certainly unique or different in its musical approach, but not my cup of tea. Too much aggressive shouting and too many political issues.
2
Mar 30 2025
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Bossanova
Pixies
Once again, what is it about the Pixies? Mostly midtempo songs, basslines in eight notes, the melody sticking to the chord progression, the singing turning into aggressive shouting. Predictable and boring. Truely dreadful.
1
Mar 31 2025
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Who Killed...... The Zutons?
The Zutons
Better than expected, pop-rock, a tight band, accessible, if not catchy music, and ironic humor.
3
Apr 01 2025
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One Nation Under A Groove
Funkadelic
Funk. Not too bad. Sounds like this was a major source of inspiration for Prince.
3
Apr 02 2025
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Back At The Chicken Shack
Jimmy Smith
Jazz organ, some sax, not too bad, a bit too much noodeling.
3
Apr 03 2025
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Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
Frank Sinatra
This was pretty cool, great singing, great songs incl. the lyrics, and most of all a great orchestra performance.
4
Apr 07 2025
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The White Album
Beatles
5
Apr 08 2025
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Chirping Crickets
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Rock'n'Roll, but well done. Better than expected.
3
Apr 09 2025
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Garbage
Garbage
A classic in my collection. Love it.
4
Apr 11 2025
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Diamond Life
Sade
A timeless classic.
4
Apr 16 2025
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Beautiful Freak
Eels
An all-time fave since its release.
5
Apr 17 2025
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Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Not my favorite Radiohead album
3
Apr 18 2025
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Live At The Harlem Square Club
Sam Cooke
Wild, very intense atmosphere, however, it sounds like it’s the same song tenfold.
3
Apr 20 2025
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First Band On The Moon
The Cardigans
Didn‘t impress me much, wonder why it‘s on the list. Quite mediocre indie pop rock.
3
Apr 22 2025
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Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Oh, well, too bluesy, too few great songs. Also sounds old.
3
Apr 23 2025
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Idlewild
Everything But The Girl
Nice, accessible, flattering, harmonious.
3
Apr 24 2025
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Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
This is different, I could feel the energy, but also felt I came about 30 years too late to discover this intense record.
3
Apr 25 2025
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Who's Next
The Who
One of the and their best - monumental.
5
Apr 26 2025
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The Cars
The Cars
Some great songs, not consistently convincing, though. I was wondering about the Queen-like backing vocals, until I noticed the records had been produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who had worked with Queen before. :-)
4
Apr 27 2025
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L'Eau Rouge
The Young Gods
Noise is not for me.
1
Apr 28 2025
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Greetings From L.A.
Tim Buckley
Not the typical Tim Buckley, yet. I hardly recognized him initially and like later records better.
3
Apr 29 2025
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Disintegration
The Cure
Hahaha, I never understood why and what so many people like in this stack of songs dealing with teenage depression.
3
Apr 30 2025
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Destroyer
KISS
This is my teenage soundtrack. I like the live albums better, but this is probably their best studio effort. I didn't know at the time Bob Ezrin produced it and co-wrote the songs - but you can tell. His contribution improved the quality of this record.
4
May 01 2025
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Talking Timbuktu
Ali Farka Touré
Oh, well, this didn't do much for me. a bit repetetive in its musical motifs, even if they were cute.
2
May 02 2025
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Pretenders
Pretenders
I like other Pretenders' albums better. They were more elaborted, less raw.
3
May 03 2025
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Come Away With Me
Norah Jones
This is very pretty, and it sounds great on my stereo system. A discovery of late, I didn't like it so much when it was released.
4
May 05 2025
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
She's intense and sometimes annoying, but also interesting and knows how to write a good tune.
4
May 06 2025
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Pink Moon
Nick Drake
This is lovely, but I wouldn't rate it as high as most people apparantly do. The songs are not catchy enough, I hear the music more in an atmospheric way. Lovely artwork, though.
4
May 07 2025
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Who wouldn't know this record? One of a kind, though not a personal favorite.
4
May 08 2025
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The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators
This sounds actually and once again old. Some catchy tunes, but nothing I'm going to return to.
3
May 09 2025
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai
Plenty of Funk and Soul, and yet, it doesn't really speak to me.
3
May 10 2025
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Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
Better than I had memorized it.
4
May 12 2025
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Rio
Duran Duran
very catchy, cool basslines. Lovely artwork, too. missed it at the time, glad to encounter it now.
4
May 14 2025
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
beautiful, loved it, the brass, the singing, the songs, the signature sound.
4
May 15 2025
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Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
ok, some good stuff, great title, lovely artwork, but the best was yet to come.
3
May 16 2025
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Killing Joke
Killing Joke
I feel the energy, but the music is not my cup of tea, too aggressive, raw and rough, too straight and simple.
2
May 17 2025
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Imagine
John Lennon
A favourite of my youth. I used to love it, these days, I can spot its weaknesses, namely the incredible naivity of Imagine or Soldier.
4
May 18 2025
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McCartney
Paul McCartney
This is not great, as much as I love McCartney. It sounds like an array of sketches in demo quality, with the only great track being Maybe I'm Amazed. I have no idea why it's rated so high. He sounds like a fool in love.
2
May 19 2025
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There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
A disappointing experience. Plenty of rhythm, noodeling and repetition. Not what I hoped for considering the cast, neither what I like.
2
May 20 2025
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So
Peter Gabriel
Really good, even after all these years.
4
May 21 2025
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The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
I can't stand the banana record, but this one is much better.
3
May 22 2025
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Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
Like many double sets this is way too long. As a single record, this would have been much better. Plenty of fillers, some good tracks.
3
May 23 2025
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The Stooges
The Stooges
I guess this was provocative at the time (titles like „I wanna be your dog“), maybe even rebellious, but from today's pov it seems so desperate to divert and laughable in its failure to do so. John Cale produced it - no wonder I don't like it.
2
May 24 2025
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Moon Safari
Air
this is cool and different.
4
May 26 2025
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Swordfishtrombones
Tom Waits
It is quirky, and not exactly enjoyable, but unique and interesting at the same time. Overall a win.
3
May 27 2025
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Definitely Maybe
Oasis
Quite noisy, the following record has much better songs. i like the photo though.
3
May 28 2025
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Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
PJ Harvey
This is her best record. Still like it to this day (after 25 years)
4
May 30 2025
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New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)
Simple Minds
I like later works better.
3
May 31 2025
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
This is awesome and part of my Top100.
5
Jun 01 2025
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At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
This I never cared much about. I realize it was a social gesture, but I dont enjoy the music a lot.
3
Jun 03 2025
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Horses
Patti Smith
I used to like this better in my 20s.
3
Jun 06 2025
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Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
This is okay. I don't like everything, but there's great stuff on it.
4
Jun 07 2025
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
This is awesome. I like The Wall even better, but this is great as well.
5
Jun 08 2025
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Rum Sodomy & The Lash
The Pogues
Never liked them drunk shanties' shouting much.
3
Jun 10 2025
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Hot Fuss
The Killers
liro
3
Jun 12 2025
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Truth And Soul
Fishbone
okay, why not.
3
Jun 13 2025
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Smile
Brian Wilson
that one I sold. didn't like it much.
2
Jun 14 2025
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...And Justice For All
Metallica
I am not a Metallica fan, can't stand their guitar sound. only have the black album, and that takes cares of that.
1
Jun 15 2025
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Beach Samba
Astrud Gilberto
this is nice
3
Jun 16 2025
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Lady Soul
Aretha Franklin
This is okay. I should care more for her, but I don't.
3