May 06 2025
This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Classic. And safe. There is no way to avoid swinging along with 'Blueberry Hill,' 'Blue Monday,' was a perfect pick-me-up for my Monday. This is my first review and a compilation album (I'm assuming of single-45s?) is a little tough to do. These are the fan favorites, the juke-box hits. I'd never hate on this, but this particular compilation probably unfairly makes Fats a little one-dimensional. Hmmm, I wonder if there was a box of expectations in our country at the time that he was expected to conform to?
4
May 07 2025
The Cars
The Cars
As a kid growing up in small-town Midwest with few radio stations and even fewer record stores, The Cars are probably the soundtrack of my high school driving days ā although these tracks werenāt meant for me in the 90ās. Blasting the ubiquitous āclassic rockā station (that still endures with the same songs) I came way too late to the game. So I groaned a bit when I saw The Cars on my review queue for today. They were very over-saturated for me and everyone else by classic rock radio. However it is hard to deny this hit-making machine. Maybe there isnāt a ton of substance, but it is fun and I do hear a lot more experimentation than they get credit for. It wasnāt a torture as I thoughtād be!
4
May 08 2025
Vanishing Point
Primal Scream
This was a bit of a weird one for me. What am I listening to? Didnāt recognize the name and started trying to guess the decade. I thought it was 80s experimental, but it sounded a little more refined, so went with 87 ā wound up being a full decade ahead when I checked Wikipedia. I enjoyed it, but never really got into the grove. Finally, I read that this is the āpost-soundtrackā for the 1971 movie Vanishing Point, which Iāve never seen. Itās mellow for most of it, funny in bits and overall groovy. Incidentally, I enjoyed what Spotify offered after the album was overā¦similar, but more lyrical.
3
May 09 2025
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Jeepster ā thoroughly enjoyed this song for the first time. Funny. Get It On is pretty damn great, even with all the over-play it has gotten over the decades. Surprised at the āBowie-nessā of this record. Sometimes has a 60s feel and sometimes a āRocky Horror Picture Showā vibe.
4
May 10 2025
1999
Prince
I like the hits on this one. And the other ones areā¦fine. I like them just fine. This album isnāt āPurple Rain,ā for sure. Some of the duds are truly duds and just donāt land with me. But..Itās Prince! Wish there were half-stars here. Iād probably go 3.5.
4
May 11 2025
Bug
Dinosaur Jr.
Not enough time for notes, but I love this garage, noise rock.
4
May 12 2025
Sheet Music
10cc
Iād never heard, nor heard of this group. It was great. Funny and inventive. A little bit Beatles and a little bit Ween and Zappa.
4
May 13 2025
American Idiot
Green Day
I was halfway through this album, not really enjoying it, until I remembered this was supposed to be a conceptual musical/play soundtrack. Once I locked in with that and created some imagery in my head, it became more enjoyable. āKnow Your Enemyā is fun. What is it about Billie Joeās voice that makes it ripe for Weird Al parodying in every song?
3
May 14 2025
Vento De Maio
Elis Regina
I like listening to non-English music. (Most anyways.) It relaxes me? This felt like I was in a hotel lobby in the late 80s.
3
May 15 2025
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
I thought I would like this more than I did. Up through āPerfect,ā all these songs were hitting me wrong. Her voice, the tone, the 90s-ess of it all. āHand in my Pocketā felt a little better. I wasnāt expecting to love this, but it just didnāt hit me right. Her tone reminds me of someone who smirks and makes fun of everything I do: āGuess you sit at tables now.ā **smirk, smirk chuckle** āOh, okay, CAR DRIVER. Sure.ā There are enjoyable moments.
2
May 16 2025
Born In The U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen
Whatās up with the The Boss and girls and little girls? Workinā on the Highway has the hidden (when you aināt listening much) depressing message that the guy is working a chain gang because he kidnapped a little girl. The whole album is really depressing lyrics with upbeat tracks.
Wikipedia says, ā As Springsteen continued developing "Vietnam", the director Paul Schrader asked him to write music for an unmade film called Born in the U.S.A. The screenplay concerned a Cleveland factory worker who works during the day and plays guitar in a bar band at night.[7]ā
Makes so much sense. "My Hometown," is super simple and such a heartbreaker and brings me all the small Midwestern town feels. I didn't realize this was the last song and it hits with such a thud. It really sums up the whole album. What an end.
Humans are so simple though, every politician (and mostly conservative) since Reagan has tried to use "Born in the U.S.A" on the campaign trail. And every time there are people (like me) sneering from the sidelines, saying, "Did you even listen to the words???" Then you see throngs of people chanting and pumping fists to, okay, a bona fide rocker. Did they listen? No. No they did not. But there's no denying the bona-fide feeling you get colluding with the music and the chorus and ignoring the lyrics. I'm sure somewhere in the mid to late 80s or later some senior class in a small town voted to have "My Hometown" as their class song. We can sneer, "Did they even listen?" I don't think it matters. The feeling is still there. You're gonna feel nostalgic when you leave it all behind and nostalgia is part sadness, part happiness and a feeling you can't shake.
5
May 17 2025
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears
The Mamas & The Papas
Great album. Jaunty. Iām gonna strut around and shake my head like a fancy man when I listen to it!
5
May 18 2025
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Listened to it twice. Lyrically it is superb, and tight, no wasted words.
5
May 19 2025
69 Love Songs
The Magnetic Fields
Itās so many songs! Ohā¦69. Liked what I got through!
4
May 20 2025
Frank
Amy Winehouse
I never jumped on the Winehouse train. No particular reason (except maybe everyone saying I should.) And that train passed me by. I really enjoyed listening to this, but understand the best was yet to come and end too soon. Iāll have to listen to more. I can see why this hooked everyone in 2003, itās brash and swaggers in way that is super fun and I love the ādiss tracks.ā
4
May 21 2025
GI
Germs
This may not be for me. I donāt know. Just too much of the same.
2
May 22 2025
Arrival
ABBA
Can I appreciate that some
women adore ABBA, sure. Have I had fun karaoking āFernando?ā Yes. But reallyā¦no to all of this. It sounds like a kidsā album. I was not in the mood for cheery Swedes. If you need to play āDancing Queenā at a wedding reception to get out your glam vibes. Have fun, no judgement. But I donāt want to listen to a full album of this.
2
May 23 2025
Feast of Wire
Calexico
Loved all of it. Great album with variety and keeps you listening. Love the ones that sound like the opening to a spaghetti western. Thatās all I have time to write.
5
May 24 2025
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
I didnāt get to dive into the lyrics as much as Iād like. But great album. I did listen to all of it.
4
May 25 2025
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
Great
4
May 30 2025
A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
Was not into this at all. I could see why some people would like it, but it sounds like every other pop/hip-hop album produced at the time. Positive lyrics with f-bombs and a parental advisory label make me happy though.
2
May 31 2025
The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
I enjoyed this, didnāt hate it and Iām definitely not an Eminem hater. But this is like the kid, quite literally, just fucking with you. Em keeps this up in his career with the āIām crazy, Iām just fuckinā wit you throughout his careerā¦but it gets so much better when he gets older and wiser. Just like any immaturityā¦.thereās some genius there, but it gets better.
3
Jun 01 2025
The United States Of America
The United States Of America
The 60s. Wow.
3
Jun 05 2025
Beggars Banquet
The Rolling Stones
So much of the Stones is just over-played. It becomes tired and cliche. Thanks American radio! Even listening to it now, Iām surprised at the variety in the music. I sometimes forgot I was listening to ā68 Stones, as it felt like other bands from other decades ā who no doubt were borrowing from here. But the Stones were no doubt borrowing (quite openly, Iād say) from the Blues. Itās hard listening now after 50+ years of borrowing, copying and rehashing to think about listening with fresh ears.
5