Mar 13 2025
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Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
I always forget how slow this album is. In my head Sgt. Pepper's opening track is a speed-fueled punk thrash run. I thought maybe it was Jimi's fault and checked the version included in the Jimi Hendrix Experience box set from 2000, and that's better but still not quite there. Even the Flaming Lips (with their fwends My Morning Jacket and J. Mascis (?!?!)) have a slow sludgy version. Sigh.
Oh well at least I'll always have The Breeders' cover of 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' and the Feelies 'Everybody's Got Something to Hide'. Maybe I just prefer the 'White Album' - that's probably it.
Still, 'A Day in the Life' is pure class (even if it's to Britpop what Pearl Jam's 'Alive' is to Creed et al)
3
Mar 14 2025
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James Brown Live At The Apollo
James Brown
I'm ready for Star Time.
These screams sound piped in, but I'm sure they're sincere.
'Think' and 'Night Train' are essentials.
3
Mar 15 2025
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Marquee Moon
Television
Love love love this. Love the sneering vocals, the guitar tones, and the romance of it all.
I remembering being underwhelmed coming to this after being a 90s altrock kid and then getting into rock n roll history. But over time this has become a more frequent player than the Stooges or the VU (two bands I adored in my early 20s).
5
Mar 16 2025
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The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
Upright bass (samples??), drum programming and smooth rapping.
This is good but not going to end up on my everyday listening.
2
Mar 17 2025
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Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Great Sunday morning album. A stereotypical sophisticated jazz album that evokes in me images of smart young people drinking strong coffee, smoking cigarettes and engaging in illicit love affairs after a long day of discussing French philosophy and modernist literature.
3
Mar 18 2025
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Gorillaz
Gorillaz
The singles were everywhere in 2001, so much so that I refused to listen to this album then. And I guess that was a valid proposition. A lot of the tracks feel like filler working out ideas that would probably be better done in future Gorillaz tracks.
2
Mar 19 2025
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Homework
Daft Punk
'Da Funk' reminds me too much of being 17 and sneaking out of boarding school to go get fucked up at the local dance club, even though I detested the music but loved the drugs and alcohol. And then of being bombarded by 'All around the world' any time I was around people. It felt inescapable and still nearly 30 years later causes some sort of post traumatic stress.
Besides all that, I can say that I appreciate the musicality of all this, but I have grown to become a big fan of repetition as a concept, in music in art or in life. And of great big thwomping beats that may induce headaches or nausea if played loud enough.
2
Mar 20 2025
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Odessey And Oracle
The Zombies
Time of the Season almost feels out of place. It's head and shoulders above the others. But it's presence on this album is enough to bump up the rating by a star.
2
Mar 21 2025
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GREY Area
Little Simz
Had some good tracks, but this not something I'd play repeatedly.
3
Mar 22 2025
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Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine
Time travel is possible it seems. This album transported me back to the mid-90s in a scary way. Working on code while headbanging is not something I expected to do this fine Friday afternoon. This album more than most reminds me of listening to music with headphones on. This is not social music for me. This was a guilty thrill like reading under bedcovers with a torch after lights out, or sneaking into the old man's closet to page through old porno mags from the 70s and 80s. Fun to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.
I'd forgotten about the Maynard cameo and all the LedZep rips.
4
Mar 23 2025
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Being There
Wilco
Nice enough, but the songs don't grab me.
3
Mar 24 2025
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Aha Shake Heartbreak
Kings of Leon
Nah mate, not for me.
1
Mar 25 2025
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Illmatic
Nas
Every couple years I try to get into hip hop, and I always end up listening to this one. This is maybe my 4th time trying to get it, but I still don't.
2
Mar 26 2025
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Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes
Boring. Why would a rock band in 1990 make an album like this? I just don't understand.
1
Mar 27 2025
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Mothership Connection
Parliament
3
Mar 28 2025
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More Specials
The Specials
The more albums on this list I listen to, the more I realise I must be a rockist or at least someone who doesn't really like too many other genres.
This didn't really appeal to me.
2
Mar 29 2025
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Talking Heads 77
Talking Heads
Jerky, funky, awkward, nerdy, intelligent, danceable.
5
Mar 31 2025
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Slanted And Enchanted
Pavement
Quintessential 90s indie rock. Noisy, chaotic, tough and weak, intelligent and referential.
5
Apr 04 2025
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
3