Apr 27 2025
Ten
Pearl Jam
Eddie Vedder has one of the finest voices in rock music. This is a standard setter for everything that came after. Despite been a massive step away from Nevermind they complement one another brilliantly
5
Apr 28 2025
Moon Safari
Air
Just a bit dull
2
Apr 29 2025
Heroes
David Bowie
If I didn’t know this was Bowie i’d have assumed it was a monumentally bad parody album. God knows how Heroes came out of the same session as the rest of this album
1
Apr 30 2025
Fragile
Yes
Every cliche about prog on one album
1
May 01 2025
Bad
Michael Jackson
So many singles it’s effectively like listening to a greatest hits album.
5
May 02 2025
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
There is a time and a place for good Jazz, unfortunately none of which apply to this album
1
May 03 2025
Axis: Bold As Love
Jimi Hendrix
Good slbum for a sunny spring morning. I’ve never listened to a Hendrix studio album before and enjoyed the Experience
3
May 04 2025
Oxygène
Jean-Michel Jarre
Sounds like every rubbish sc-fi soundtrack from the 80s
1
May 05 2025
Every Picture Tells A Story
Rod Stewart
One star for Maggie May and a collection of sub standard b-sides
1
May 06 2025
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
3
May 07 2025
Mothership Connection
Parliament
Would be better as an instrumental album. Hype man vocals are just annoying
2
May 08 2025
Diamond Life
Sade
So smooth it’s just dull
1
May 09 2025
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
A truly wonderful album. Not my favourite Beatle but possibly my favourite Beatle solo album
5
May 10 2025
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
OutKast
Would have been 4/5 for speakerboxx alone but despite aa on sprawling album the Love Below holds it back (despite som standout moments). Sounds like what it is two separate albums presented ad one to maintain the Outkast brand going a little longer. Ideally would have been 3.5/5 but just not quite strong enough for a 4 as a cohesive album.
3
May 11 2025
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
A good album, but suffers from some unnecessarily long tracks
3
May 12 2025
The Wall
Pink Floyd
I was surprised thst i only knew two tracks on this album, but having now listened to it less so. It’s an overblown overlong album and listening to it was a real slog. I fear like Shakespeare this is something you need to see performed to fully appreciate but i wont be wasting anymore time on this
2
May 13 2025
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
Really enjoyed the first volume, but with a second volume as well it just felt overly long. Was surprised how many songs i recognised, but obviously some of this was due to them being standards and in the case of what you hot cooking, just brought flashbacks to the horrible Findus advert from the 80s
3
May 14 2025
Ghosteen
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
I expected an album of Nick Cave’s vocals would be my sticking point with this album, but i think it’s actually the music. The backing tracks are either so ethereal i drift off and stop paying attention to the beautiful lyrics or its jarring (synths) and actively annoy me.
Leviathan was reminiscent of queue of wicker man at Alton Towers so st least retained some intrrest.
Ghosteen the song lost me when synths start ed to sound like refugee from a jean-michel jarre song. Although my dislike for those did mean more of the lyrics in the second half made it into through my ambivalence.
Overall the album was just background music
Sorry Nick it’s me not you.
2
May 15 2025
Copper Blue
Sugar
Pure 90s nostalgia. It perfectly bridges the gap between grunge and more mainstream US alternative rock scene of this period.
I can also hear the influence they had on my favourite band the Wildhearts, especially in Helpless.
Overall a great trip down memory lane
4
May 16 2025
Kick Out The Jams (Live)
MC5
Only knew Kick out the jams and that was through covers, so had high hopes for this album. Turns out that those hopes were misplaced. Far more straight down the middle rock than i expected and just fails to provide anything interesting
1
May 17 2025
The World is a Ghetto
War
Not horrendous but not for me either. Instantly forgettable
2
May 18 2025
They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Liars
Track 1 abrasive noise
Track 2 the sound of a panic attack
Track 3 standing outside a school music within which a collection of kids are doing there own thing
I decided to wait for something positive to write but that never came. This only serves value in making you appreciate how much better most of the list is. It is more likely to be the sound i hear at the point of death than something you need to hear before it
1
May 19 2025
Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely
As i’ve got older, i’ve found more ‘country’ music seepiing into my music. Modern country is not that fair from more mainstream Americana or more general modern folk. This is not that. This is old fashioned county with lots of Honky tonking. Best i can say is that is generally easy listening and moves along at a reasonable lick
2
May 20 2025
Parklife
Blur
Obviously a defining album of the nineties and the first five tracks, To The End and This Is A Low make it impossible for me to score this lower than a 3.
But i’d also forgotten the dreamy elegance of Badhead and the joyous bounce of London Loves.
Ultimately though i will always be more Oasis than Blur and the remaining tracks to push it over the top. A really good listen but not a classic
4
May 21 2025
Third
Soft Machine
First 7 minutes sound like an orchestra warming up rather than playing any tangible music. After that somebody reminds the band they are recording an album, still not great but at leastfeels like its meant to be music.
Picks up slightly with the middle two tracks before track 4 returns to near five minute warm up and my delight at the fourth track ending quickly dashed by it starting up again
It’s the sound of Jazz meets Rock but this is far from a happy marriage of styles
2
May 22 2025
Street Signs
Ozomatli
Had to go old school and buy a cd in order to listen to the full album as seemingly absent from uk streaming.
The album opens with the sound of pure joy. A wonderful blend of styles like an audio street festival.
Latin grooves with occasional rapping and shouting whats not to love
4
May 23 2025
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
Unhinged, creative genius of an album. Somehow manages to instil every track with a high level of quirkiness whilst maintaining highly listenable tunes.
4
May 24 2025
Dummy
Portishead
There are some obvious stand out tracks on this album like sour times and glory box but it just all feels a bit middling. Nothing grabs hold of you and demands you pay attention. Its not surprising that this has led to the music being s go to soundtrack to seedier crime drama like The Vice.
Enjoyable background music
3
May 25 2025
Definitely Maybe
Oasis
A debut album that sounds so strong it could be a best of for most other acts. Even the lesser tracks (digsys and married with children are ridiculously strong in their own right
5
May 26 2025
Os Mutantes
Os Mutantes
An explosion of 60s psychedelia with a Brazilian twist. With the exception of of A Minha Menina (which i think must have been used on an advert at some point) it sounds a little too much like someone trying to sound like other groups in places, especially the Beatles but still quite enjoyable.
Not sure about the sudden slurp noise in Baby, may have made sense if you understand the lyrics but for me a rather unpleasant jolt.
2
May 27 2025
Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Good old fashioned blues rock. Straight down the middle delivery.
When i spotted a cover of heard ot through the grapevine, i thought this could be good/interesting and i was right, it could have been, had they kept it tight and not stretched it out to over 11 minutes.
Nothing wrong (if you ignore the extension to grapevine) with it but nothing to excite either.
3
May 28 2025
The Sounds Of India
Ravi Shankar
The actual music is fine but i dont really want the explanatory detail. Not sure i will ever revisit this album but kind of enjoyed the experience of listening to it at least once
3
May 29 2025
Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
Just very derivative paint by numbers music. It would appear that pizzas, even ones that have sexual relations with one of your parents do not make for solid inspiration for songs. Relies on too many childish jokes that just fall flat
2
May 30 2025
Dog Man Star
Suede
Always had a troubled relationship with Suede. Animal nitrate is a truly great song but my appreciation tends to be restricted to their singles. This album just serves to reinforce my view that they were just a bit dull
2
May 31 2025
C'est Chic
CHIC
The jason derulo of the 70s, god this band want to make sure you know their name.
Obviously it’s hard not to like the groove that Nile Rodgers brings to a tune, but at times it’s like the record is stuck and cant move onto the next part. I didn't think i would say this but Fatman S coop made more of Chic Cheer than Chic did.
Le Freak is a stonewall classic and enough to make me overlook that lyric (i know it’s Chic, enough already)
Savoir faire was not what i was expecting and not in a good way. Bring back the vocals telling me who it is as i honestly wouldn’t have known this was by Chic.
Another dull if funky track and then another classic in I Want Your Love.
Why do we get some momentum going and then dash it with a slow dirge track. Sometimes tries its best to get us back on track with a funky Niles bass-line but still feels like filler.
(Funny) bone has a great groove to it and the lack of anything that could reasonably described as lyrics works in its favour
2
Jun 01 2025
Tubular Bells
Mike Oldfield
This is an album i feel i should enjoy. An album equivalent of an eighties coffee table book that all middle class households own and say they like. But I didn’t grow up in a working class household so the only nostalgia i have is for its use in soundtracks, but that exposure tender to be fleeting and therefore this just feels unnecessarily overblown pretentiousness of the highest class. This is not a classical work, an instrumental (i dont care it had a short burst of speaking toward the end) does not need to be 25 minutes long.
It comes to something when the theme from Blue Peter is a highlight, given the programme itself was a dull patronising affair
I assume Mike Oldfield’s single is named that as if he played this on his dates that would certainly be the end result. Although give it it’s due mercifully short.
The final track is frankly pointless why anyone would want to listen to that i’m not sure.
1
Jun 02 2025
Savane
Ali Farka Touré
Harmless enough but a lot of the songs didnt seem to go anywhere (obviously this is based on my inability to understand the lyrics).
Really enjoyed the title track and definitely heard a lot less through this process.
2
Jun 03 2025
Brilliant Corners
Thelonious Monk
Laid back relaxing effortless cool from one of the masters of jazz. As with most Jazz it would benefit from hearing it in the confines of a club but soothing nonetheless.
3
Jun 04 2025
Revolver
Beatles
One of The great albums of all time. Revolver is the point where the Beatles have truly refined the art. From the very start this album delivers. The perfect mix of of more upbeat songs like taxman and Good Day Sunshine to the sweeping beauty of Eleanor Rigby and For No One.
Tomorrow Never Knows with its loops etc is so far ahead of it’s time whilst delivering a great song.
Got To Get You Into My Life is a truly underrated classic.
There is nothing to dislike on this album, even the Ringo track is Yellow Submarine!
5
Jun 05 2025
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Having now listened to this and the wall i assume they felt one decent track was sufficient to justify an album and then then name it after that song.
This album could and should have been a single with s shortened version of track 5 as the b-side.
Overblown pretentious crap
1
Jun 06 2025
Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Remake/re-model is chaotic fun and even rips off Day Tripper but i cant get past the whiny annoying vocals
Is there something sounds like an attempt at Bolanesque vocals but just sounds like a goat wailing
Virginia plain is another example of what could have been for the want of a decent vocalist
1
Jun 07 2025
The Stranger
Billy Joel
How can you not love Just The away you Are and She’s Always a Woman, absolutely classic tracks.
However the minutes music and whistling at the end of The Stranger could have been cut for me, as could the very clunky lyrics of Scenes From An Italian Restaurant (a bottle of white, a bottle of red).
Billy obviously unaware of my comments about the outro to The Stranger decided that wasnt long enough so extended for the album closer. Damn you Billy Joel, you just dont want these stars!!
3
Jun 08 2025
Phaedra
Tangerine Dream
Twaddle felt like i was l listening to a game load on the spectrum in the 80s.
1
Jun 09 2025
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Good old fashioned rock. Very evocative of the late 60s, early 70s. Like a gentle breeze of melody blowing through the day.
It was the perfect accompaniment for the dog walk of a cool sunny morning
4
Jun 10 2025
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
A bit slow, a dit dull, but still listenable. Just meh!
Strangely for quite a short album a lot of the tracks felt unnecessarily long. Jesus is accurately named, but i suspect mr Mayfield and i are putting very different emphasis on that song title.
A tale of what could’ve been i fear.
2
Jun 11 2025
Disraeli Gears
Cream
Strong start but definitely front loading the album ahead of some pleasant but uninspiring album tracks. My god blue condition is a dirge and least said about Mother’s lament the better.
Oh and that is one way to pronounce Ulysses
2
Jun 12 2025
Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
I approached this album with the preconception that i font like Leonard Cohen’s vocals, so was pleasantly surprised that they didn’t immediately grate on me.
The man can write emotive lyrics and is his younger years could passably sing these. However, it’s just generally a bit dull. Suzanne and So long Marianne are stand outs in a fairly bland album
2
Jun 13 2025
Smile
Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson was undeniably a genius and knowing the history of this album perhsps makes it difficult to judge.
It’s a story of what could’ve been had the beach boys clung together and completed Smile.
As it is it lacks any spark of magic and the inclusion of Good Vibrations judt highlights this is far from Wilson’s best. A solid album but not a classic
3
Jun 14 2025
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
I perfectly understand people who think Dylan can’t sing and used to feel that way myself. But at some point it just clicked for me and now the vocals fit perfectly on classics like ‘Like a rolling stone’.
If you dont like Dylan they i doubt this will convert you.
I live the old style stomp of ‘It takes a lot to laugh’… which is evocative of walking into a smokey blues bar. Highway 61 has a stomping groove to it which i love.
Just a really good album
4
Jun 15 2025
Exit Planet Dust
The Chemical Brothers
As a rock/indie fan i never properly got into the Chems until after this album and have never been motivated to go back.
This just works for me as a complete album, unencumbered by the presence of a massive hit single (or at least one i recognise).
All albums can also be improved with a sprinkle of tim burgess.
I suspect i have all the albums after this or have certainly listened to them, but as it turns out the one i have previously ignored is their finest, most distilled collection of their craft
5
Jun 16 2025
Station To Station
David Bowie
Six sings, 36 minutes and track one is ten minutes of that feels like something’s gone wrong. That said station to station in an enjoyable upbeat Bowie track, just not sure it needs to that long.
Rest of the tracks are fine but hardly spectacular. Just a reasonable solid album
3
Jun 17 2025
Disintegration
The Cure
Not far into this album and it feels very much like they are a band that feel the listener should do some work before they ate rewarded with songs. Unnecessarily long intros mean by the time the song proper starts I’ve already slighted turned off.
With the exception of Lovesong their slavish dedication to intros well over a minute mean i can only assume Robert Smith has a weak bladder and songs are all arranged in a manner they can be easily extended to enable his relief before the vocals come in.
That said, the songs are generally pleasant enough to listen to and whilst nothing really grabbed me and demanded my attention it is a reasonably solid album. Oh for the want of a strong producer to rein those unnecessarily long intros into line.
3
Jun 18 2025
25
Adele
This is a great album. From the melancholy yearning straight in the damn right defiance of send my love this is a tour de force.
Adele delivers every line with such controlled power you have to pay attention.
5
Jun 19 2025
Street Life
The Crusaders
I feared the worst on the album opener until the vocal’s kicked in and lifted it to become a really strong groove of a tune…..but then it refused to end.
Track 2 sounds like the theme to an American tv show from the 70/80s snd just lacks the ‘filmed before a live studio audience’ announcement.
Unfortunately that the highlights as the album continues into not unpleasant forgetableness
2
Jun 20 2025
Brutal Youth
Elvis Costello
I mean it sounds like classic Costello, so cant go wrong.
Kinder murder is brilliant storytelling in a song “dreaming of the pigskin’
The whole album just feels balanced.
4
Jun 21 2025
Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Now this what good 80s music sounds like. I remember this sounding just so different and exciting to Uk chart music.
It’s tricky has always been been my favourite Run DMC song, throw in My adidas and Walk this way and you cant go wrong
A fine example of good old school hip hop
4
Jun 22 2025
The Hour Of Bewilderbeast
Badly Drawn Boy
An album of pure majesty which manages to be so traditional, yet so innovative at the same time.
BDB looks like a busker but by god he’d be the best busker there was.
Tracks like Once around the block, , Disillusion, Pissing in the wind and the Shining. BDB also made great videos for this album, who can forget him perched on the edge of Joan Collins’s bath
5
Jun 23 2025
american dream
LCD Soundsystem
Meh!
2
Jun 24 2025
Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
The album opens strongly enough with Sunshine of my life and Maybe your baby, but the subsequent couple of tracks feel distinctly filler.
At his worst Stevie can stray firmly into keyboard driven schmaltz and this album is not immune from that.
Things pick up with You’ve got it bad girl, which sets you up nicely for the undeniable classic.
Superstition is Stevie Wonder at his best. The funky brass filled joy of the backing will always make you feel joy.
Big brother is an interesting track with its simple backing track and ernest lyrics. I’m not sure i know how i feel about it, as every time i feel i really like it the lyrics just jar a bit.
Looking for another pure love feels like an attempt to writing another Sunshine of my life but fails to locate the spark that lifts that up. In the end it just feels a bit blah and repetitive
I Believe closers the album in a strong note walking the fine line of those before, settling on the great songs. Unfortunately the album just feels too inconsistent for a great album.
3
Jun 25 2025
Ready To Die
The Notorious B.I.G.
Strange that other than the big hitters, uicy and Big poppa, this didn’t move me either way. A solid album but few highlights outside those two tracks. Largely forgettable and as a result slightly disappointing
3
Jun 26 2025
Djam Leelii
Baaba Maal
Pleasant enough but it all felt a bit background music for me.
I suspect my engagement may have been increased if i understood the lyrics, which alas i dont.
2
Jun 27 2025
Green Onions
Booker T. & The MG's
Green onions is definitely a classic, but cant say i knew much beyond that. I think my general mood throughout the album was boredom. Everything was technically good but just didn’t move me.
In particular their version of Twist and shout just put me in mind of a fairground organ tune.
2
Jun 28 2025
Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell has a great distinctive voice and that shows on this album. However overall i was left underwhelmed by the album and slightly bored. For an album lasting only 37 minutes it really seemed to drag at points.
The change in tempo for ‘Raised on robbery’ was a welcome relief from what went before but was not enough to lift this album for me overall.
2
Jun 29 2025
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
I have never really liked synth pop, but Annie Lennox has an amazing voice.
The album opens strongly with ‘Love is a stranger’ but quickly dips to mediocre 80s synth pop. Obviously’Sweet Dreams’ offrrs some respite and is a true classic.
Within the other tracks it feels like there are traces of other similar music of the time. ‘ This is the house’ put me in mind of the Human League but with Annie on lead vocals(and ‘Pop Musik’ by M).
Over the album serves only to reinforce my view that Annies best material was as a solo artist
2
Jun 30 2025
Triangle
The Beau Brummels
The only positive here is that the album is only 27 minutes long, although it does feel longer
1
Jul 01 2025
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
Great start but quickly turns to mediocrity
2
Jul 02 2025
Out of Step
Minor Threat
Fast loud a raucous, what’s not to enjoy!
3
Jul 03 2025
Da Capo
Love
Generally mediocre but the unnecessarily long final track drags this down even further.
More to not like than like
2
Jul 04 2025
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
The songs are just so perfectly crafted. The production on this and obviously Marvin’s vocals are just on point.
Album openers dont get much better than ‘What’s going on’.
As someone who quite often finds soul music a bit blah, i cannot speak highly enough about this album.
5
Jul 05 2025
Wild Is The Wind
Nina Simone
Nina Simone’s vocals are faultless and other an interesting counterpoint to the lyrical content of this album.
The story telling of racial equality is impactful without detracting from the enjoyment on a musical level.
I love Jeff Buckley’s version of Lilac Wine and Nina’s version definitely holds its own with that.
4
Jul 06 2025
The Sun Rises In The East
Jeru The Damaja
This is very much an album of its time, but lacks anything to lift it over and above in a crowded hip-hop field of the mid-nineties.
Solid but nothing to excite or endear which results in a largely forgettable listening experience
2
Jul 07 2025
Drunk
Thundercat
Solid modern day funk.
The arrival of Kendrick provides the first real highlight. Adding a much needed layer of texture to the track, lacking on those before it.
Generally there is too much synths for my liking and no where is that more apparent than ‘Friend zone’. Which is the sound of an oncoming migraine.
Drink dat is another standout and it’s not coincidental that this is another track with a guest rapper, in Wiz Khalifa. Unfortunately for me at least when Thundercat is playing off someone stylistically different and therefore this generally falls a bit flat
2
Jul 08 2025
Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
Simon & Garfunkel
Without doubt have of the great duos, despite their issues their vocals complement each other perfectly.
Homeward bound is a beautifully crafted song, but that along with 59th street highlight that some of the other songs (Big bright green pleasure machine) dont quite live up to that exceptional standard.
It also feels odd to include a Christmas song on a normal album, no matter how good that song is
3
Jul 09 2025
Arrival
ABBA
I do Not like ABBA and ‘When i kissed the teacher’ does nothing to dispel that opinion. It is very ABBA by numbers all jangly backing track and layered vocals singing counter to the main vocals. If hell has an audio form it might be this song.
Dancing Queen at least puts you in mind of joyous nights out, but retains that horrible tweeness ABBA bring to all their songs.
My love my life makes me long for the normal twee upbeat europop you associate with their singles. Even with this dirge of a track i dont think you are ever in danger of not knowing what the song is called. ABBA definitely like to hammer a song home.
Dum dum diddle- christ please make it stop!
Knowing me knowing you at least puts me on mind of Alan Partridge so adding him shouting aha! Adds something to it.
Money money money’s is possibly ABBA’s most enjoyable 40 odd seconds, although in part my mind thinks it would be improved by Fagin from Oliver! Singing it. Oh and the annoying chorus.
Why did have to be me? At least brings some musical variety but who would’ve picked ABBA doing Chas n Dave doing an upbeat pop song as the style to go with.
Tiger and arrival provide no respite from the attack on my senses. Not sure whether instrumental ABBA is preferable to non instrumental ABBA
Fernando is at least another song i associate with Alan Partridge. It also has possible the catchiest of their choruses.
1
Jul 10 2025
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
Now i’m all for a bit of harmonica but the introduction to this album is taking it too far. Aside from from that the tune (eventually) is jolly enough but the singer’s vocal grate on me.
Bloody well right continues the pointless intro issue. Already being to get tedious. When the tune (again eventually) arrives i dont think there’s any doubt, if there ever was, what decade this album is from.
This is just slow boring drivel.
1
Jul 11 2025
Groovin'
The Young Rascals
The album starts fairly middle of the road inoffensive 60s pop rock and then you reach Sueno. Sueno suddenly introduces flamenco stylings, but this still doesn’t lift the overall album from mundanity.
Groovin is however a great song.
Overall the album is a pleasant enough snapshot of the era but nothing to write home about.
2
Jul 12 2025
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
To my shame despite living for a year with a massive Beastie Boys fan, i dont think i’ve ever listened to an actual album in it’s entirety outside of ‘To the 5 Boroughs’ (which is far from their best). Having already being bitten several times by albums popping up that i assumed (mistakenly) i’d love this one had me worried. However finally this one confirmed my preconception and i thoroughly enjoyed it.
It perfectly soundtracked a very sunny summer morning.
Sabotage holds a particular place in my heart from going to the alternative club nights whilst at school, safe in the knowledge that at some point you would get the double hit of Sabotage and Killing in the name of and everyone would just lose their shit.
4
Jul 13 2025
All Hail the Queen
Queen Latifah
A pivotal album in hip-hop. De la Soul introduced me to Queen Latifah and obviously they feature on this album. The production is similar in style and i love but Latifah’s flow is still the standout here.
Ladies first is just a classic and always good to hear some Monie Love.
4
Jul 14 2025
Sex Packets
Digital Underground
The album seems partly preoccupied by how great/different they are in terms of their delivery or things like their funk. Newsflash very little of difference here and there’s a limit how many songs about the technicalities by of making the song is interesting/bearable.
When the lyrical content moves away from this, isn’t doesn’t get any better unfortunately.
This album is definitely of its time and there’s nothing here that suggests it shouldn’t be left there.
1
Jul 15 2025
Time Out
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Growing up Dave Brubeck was Jazz is my mind. Not because my parents liked or even played him, but because he appeared to be tv’s go to example. So a character in the Beiderbeck Affair liked Jazz, out would come the vinyl and on would go ‘Take 5’.
This is undeniably easy listening, its just soothing like a musical trickling along, not the handbrake turn you get with some Jazz. There’s security in this dort of Jazz, you are never in doubt that someone will go off script and do that Jazz staple of improvising. That said this safety means it generally feels like background music.
Take 5 is a classic.
3
Jul 16 2025
Smash
The Offspring
A solid slice of mid nineties punk, never as consistent as Green Day but man they had a tune in them.
Tracks like ‘Come Out and Play’ ans ‘Self Esteem’ show how could the Offspring could be on their day and say the right side of the novelty line which just a couple of albums later they merrily flung themselves across.
3
Jul 17 2025
In Rainbows
Radiohead
My first thought at seeing this as today’s album was ‘not my favourite era of Radiohead’, but ‘Weird fishes/Arpeggi’ is one of my favourite Radiohead songs.
Thom Yorke’s vocals are so well suited to the erratic backing that fills this album and it gets off to a cracking start with a powerful 1-2 punch of ‘15 step’ and ‘bodysnatchers’.
What I realise pretty quickly is that my musical tastes have shifted quite a bit since this came out or there isnt the shock their was when it became the first pay what you want album i bought. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this as its suffered in comparison to the bends, ok computer and even pablo honey as the radiohead albums i would reach for first.
4
Jul 18 2025
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Classic.
5
Jul 19 2025
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Solid opener with a song that i only know from being a staple of Oasis’s setlist.
For a fairly short album theres more variety in terms of style than the previous Neil Young albums i’d listened to, presumably in part due to the live aspect but this still works as a cohesive album.
Not sure of the necessity to close the album with a different version of hey hey though, especially given it is not as good
3
Jul 20 2025
Paris 1919
John Cale
Dont like his voice. Dont like the music. Dont like the album.
1
Jul 21 2025
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
Having thoroughly enjoyed their 2025 album ‘heritage’ i was pleased to see this pop up.
Unlike some of the other albums i’ve had on this list, that aren’t in English, this didn’t feel like it possibly lost something to my ability to enjoy it. The musical just picks you up and sweeps you along and whilst i might know what the lyrics content is telling me, it just fits rhythmically.
3
Jul 22 2025
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
The perfect meeting point of early nighties hip hop and jazz. Along with De La Soul, Jungle Brothers and Queen Latifah, Tribe epitomised my early foray into hip hop.
The chilled beats and fun lyrics make this album a must
4
Jul 23 2025
Van Halen
Van Halen
Not really my preferred style of rock, but i do have a soft spot for Van Halen, albeit i actually prefer the Sammy Hagar fronted version incarnation.
Obviously the guitarmanship is insane and listening to eruption i cant help but hear the influence EVH had on those who came after him like Nuno Bettencourt.
Whilst there are a few great tracks on this album i think it would be generous to describe the quality as variable. Atomic Punk in particular is s low point. It is very old school rock and some of the lyrical content reflects this.
I dont like DLR’s vocals and obviously that presents another stumbling block in terms of enjoying this. Full marks for the musicianship but not so much for the thing as a whole.
2
Jul 24 2025
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Sabbath’s first six albums are hard to match. For heavy metal they bring a groove and listenability that is unparalleled.
Vol 4 doesn’t pull its punches from the outset this album means business.
The atrocity of Ozzy’s duet with Kelly could easily make you forget how beautiful and striking Changes is, especially given how different it is from their general output. Ditto the majesty of Laguna sunrise.
Ozzy is undeniably one of the great frontmen in rock, but my god you cannot overlook the skill of Iommi, Butler and Ward. Sometimes a line-up just works.
5
Jul 25 2025
Maggot Brain
Funkadelic
Bobbins.
1
Jul 26 2025
Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
Nilsson is someone I’ve obviously been aware of for a long time, but save for his versions of songs that others have covered, not someone i’ve (knowingly) heard much by.
The album opens steady enough. Both of the opening tracks breeze through and suited the stroll from the bakery it soundtracked.
Early in the morning continues the smooth approach but as the lyrics suggest through in a touch of blues, which i enjoy.
Down introduces a funky bit of piano and brass which switch things up a bit more and put me in mind of some of John Lennon’s 70s output, albeit vocally probably closer to Macca.
I always thought that Nilsson wrote Without You, so was surprised to discover it’s actually written by two members of Badfinger. Nilsson’s version however is great and manages to have that grandeur to its delivery without the histrionics of latter versions.
My subconscious knew there would be more Nilsson tracks that i’d know and sure enough Coconut proves that point. The quirkiness providing an interest contrast to Without you.
The funk of Jump into the fire is irresistible. It’s another track that shows that Nilsson really did have range.
4
Jul 27 2025
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
As we go through this process i worry more than finding new artists i really love it is more a case of reevaluating ‘great’ artists who i only have a limited (one album or a greatest hits) knowledge of.
Unfortunately Joni falls into this category. I like that this album appears to try musically different things from what I’d expect from Joni Mitchell, but i really dont like tracks like the ‘Jungle Line’.
‘Edith and the Kingpin’ feels more safe JM territory and its strengths in being a gentle flowing song unfortunately are why it doesn’t grab me. I just find it a bit dull.
‘Shades of Scarlett conquering’ is a bit more engaging.
Generally this sounds like a Sunday morning album from my childhood, inoffensive background music with people only occasionally aware of its presence while going about their morning
2
Jul 28 2025
More Songs About Buildings And Food
Talking Heads
David Byrne’s vocals really dont sit well with me for a full album. One or two songs is fine but over the length of this album they started to jar by the time i got to ‘The Girls Want To Be…’
I quite like the music though, although again it gets a bit too samey over the course of the album.
Given this ‘take me to the river’ is a welcome gem toward the end of the album, as it forces something a bit different on both fronts. Big country is also a strong song, just a shame these are stuck at the arse end of the album
2
Jul 29 2025
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
I loved Eminem when this album came out and his early output remains his best. This is Eminem before he jjst dtaryed rapping as quickly as possible, yes the content can be uncomfortable (to say the least) at times, but it is dtill a great album.
Guilty Conscience was always my favourite Eminem track and had a great video.
The album just doesn’t live up to the memory. I guess in many ways the shock of prime Eminem has long gone and there is just better rap music out there.
3
Jul 30 2025
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Pleasant enough, makes me feel like i should be sat in an open boxcar crossing the open land of America.
3
Jul 31 2025
Blood On The Tracks
Bob Dylan
I long since past having an issue with Dylan’s vocals and instead now appreciate the character it brings to his music.
This feels like quite a tuneful Dylan album and is just generally enjoyable, despite there not really being a bit hitter in its tracklist.
4
Aug 01 2025
Trout Mask Replica
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
This album wasnt available through apple music so i had to listen through youtube with ads.
Generally the album sounded worse thsn if they’d lined the instruments up at the top of a long staircase and pushed them down whilst recording the local drunk spouting nonsense.
Dali’s car sounds like someone who cant play guitar trying to play a variety of tv theme tunes they only vaguely remember on an out of tune guitar.
The colgate ad was by far and away the best track
1
Aug 02 2025
Juju
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Never really listened to any Siouxsie Soux other than occasional songs on compilations etc, so cant say they’re an artist that necessarily appeals to me.
I quite like the music but there is just something about the vocals or maybe more specifically the style of delivery that just doesn’t quite sit with me
3