May 05 2025
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Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Arctic Monkeys
Played this none stop when it first came out. Couldn’t believe how original and consistent it was across the whole album. Back then, defo 5/5. Listening start to finish now, still an absolute banger and of its time.
5
May 06 2025
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Kind Of Blue
Miles Davis
Pleasant and moseying. Clear talent all round and a real art and skill, but not grabbed in the same way as some music or wowed. Just a kind of ‘yeh, this is really nice and accomplished.’ Quite liked having 5 longer tracks to make up an album. Helpful to read the history too, to understand its place in time and relevance. I like the constant reemergence of the two notes “high-lowwww” in each song. Blue in Green moved me the most. (3.5)
3
May 07 2025
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The Slim Shady LP
Eminem
So original, so violent, so transparent. Remember first finding ‘my name is’ on late night rap show and was instantly taken by it. Similar feeling in how different, brutal and shocking it can be. Also clever lyrics and insight into hood/trailer life. Led me to look at his journey and understand more. Impressive. Maybe edging on repetitive. ‘My Fault’ stood out. (3.5)
3
May 08 2025
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The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
I mean, my obvious bias a side, again, it was of it’s time and original, in many ways. Just feels a little repetitive, same kind of melodies and structures. Some good lyrics, songs and melodies, but kinda just felt like once I'd hear 1 song, I’d heard them all. Some clever plays on words and structure/chords, but ultimately, just ended up being minor variations on a theme, throughout.
3
May 09 2025
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The Specials
The Specials
Amazing that this was a debut album, really. Such energy, rawness and love Terry Hall’s voice and cadence especially. A hoot to know it was produced by Costello. Again, very original and of its time. Did a huge amount for British ska. To be picky, got a little bored towards the middle/end - some weaker songs and similar vibe throughout (3.5)
3
May 10 2025
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Surfer Rosa
Pixies
Just couldn’t really get into it or even feel comfortable listening to it. Raw and original but just dissonant and not really enjoyable to listen to. And maybe that’s what they were going for, but not an enjoyable experience for me. Left me feeling tense and grasping for things to hold onto. But I liked the originality and quirkiness too. Can’t work out if it works better in songs like Gigantic and Where is my Mind, or if that’s just because they are more familiar? (2.5) +.5 for those two belters!
2
May 10 2025
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Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
Basically Irish Springsteen/Arcade Fire! Good energy and songwriting, but just not really my bag and songs quite long. Feels like a slog, somehow. Just with the pace and keeping up and amount of things going on in a song.
2
May 11 2025
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The Rise & Fall
Madness
Familiar, up beat, good energy, quirky. Enjoy the experimental elements and surprise in places. Kinda prog rock in places and like the change in tempo, Melodie’s and little ditties. It’s good and surprised at how much I liked it and the alt of it.
4
May 12 2025
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Penance Soiree
The Icarus Line
Mix is HORRIBLE. and to read in the bio that there were issues over the mix and THIS is what they chose?! Geez. I get it - grunge, messy, dissonant, but I think of something like ‘Deloused..’ and how important the mix is on that and this is what happens when that’s not there. Horrible and feel like I can’t hear or appreciate the songs properly because of it. And also just a bit repetitive. Messy nothingness. A lucky 2*
2
May 13 2025
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Back In Black
AC/DC
Clean, good energy, Brian Johnson’s voice is amazing and a great fit. Edging on parody sometimes with the titles and play on words, but of it’s time and true stadium rock energy. Enjoyed the stocatoed guitar and break downs/build ups. Interesting to know the background - 7th album! Singers death, black cover and second best selling album in history! (3.5)
3
May 14 2025
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Here Come The Warm Jets
Brian Eno
I mean, fair play. I enjoy experimentation and being surprised or caught off guard by music. However, I just can’t necessarily find my seat in this. Respect for doing it and the individuality of it, but I also want to be able to find my place in the music and enjoy it, which I didn’t get from this.
3
May 15 2025
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Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy
Good energy - I like. Enjoy the continuous flow between songs. Great beats and flow. Felt energised and upbeat listening to it and some nice little break downs and use of samples. Yehhhh I like this and whilst songs are similar in some way, just great flow and continuation and vibes (1st half) 😎 political, cultural and a capturing of society at the time, and more importantly, being black. Enough to keep it fresh and varied throughout. Tune with Anthrax just shows their openness but also a bit comical. 1st 1/2 better than 2nd. Great start and run of tracks.
4
May 16 2025
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Third
Soft Machine
Okay, I can dig this. Nice Mars Volta vibes. Jazz / Prog and writing this as I’m just half way into the first track but excited to see where it goes but feel aligned and interested so far. Snarky Puppy vibes.
‘Facelift’ feels like a gradual welcoming and unfolding into a jazz crescendo, before coming back down to rest to move into ‘Slightly All The Time’ a slow moseying bass line that again, could easily be a snarky puppy song and ventures all over melody’s and tempos as the song develops. First album I’ve added to my general playlists. ‘Moon in June’ first introduction of vocals and probably enjoyed it more without. Loses half a star for this. Dreadful song and vocals. 2nd half of song better than first. ‘Out-Bloody-Rageous’ back to the enjoyable grooves and prog jazz. Great end, shame about third song. (3.5)
3
May 17 2025
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Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Only really know some solo tracks so was quite different to what I was expecting with the full band. Pleasantly surprised. Nice tempo, groove and fairly catchy. Really enjoyed ‘Round & Round’. ‘Down by the river’ 🥱 enjoyed second half of the album much less than the first. First three songs good. Next three meh and last one a bit of a better note to finish on. 4* for first 3. 3* for next 3 and 3.5 for last so (3/3.5)
3
May 18 2025
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Floodland
Sisters Of Mercy
Okay. Reverb drums, chorus guitar, gated snare, and dramatic, heartfelt vox! - we are in goth rock - Wouldn’t be my usual choice but could appreciate its quality in this genre and found some bits quite catchy.
Particularly enjoyed “Eldritch served as the vocalist, performed all instruments, and programmed the band's drum machine…Morrison did not contribute to the album despite being a member of the Sisters of Mercy.” 😂
‘The Corrosion’ is pretty epic! I almost like the album, which probably says a lot for its quality considering this isn’t really my bag. Got me grooving and moving, but in a kind of ironic, satirical way!
Terrible last song to close the album. Dominion & Corrosion stood out. Does what it does well, but not for me.
3
May 19 2025
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Songs Of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Yawwwwwwwn. The music really matches the album artwork. He looks like he just listened to this album. Felt similar to how I experienced Dylan - just pretty simplistic and variations on a theme. Mostly 2 chords with a dragging vocal line. Hadn’t heard the influence on Fionn Regan before, so that was interesting, but when I love music that raises my spirit through surprise and novelty and skill, this did the exact opposite. Like a long, boring conversation with someone you’re trying to get away from. Actually found myself getting angrier as the album went on. Drawlllllll. (2.5)
2
May 20 2025
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Cheap Thrills
Big Brother & The Holding Company
It’s so interesting for them to have added the crowd noise after and was mainly a studio album. Really great energy and vocals. Nice groove and rhythm. Sometimes, would actually prefer a less strained vocal eg ‘Summertime’. Enjoy the guitar runs and also changing tempo and energy. Great selection/order of songs and flow throughout. So much soul and heart. Raw, energetic and broad.
4
May 21 2025
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Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Pleasant, moseying, so much soul and groove, and leaves me much more chilled and in a groove than excited or surprised. Has its place and great production too. Not sure anything tops the opener but all songs consistently solid. Enjoyed the pick up of the last track (3.5) close to 4
3
May 22 2025
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Apocalypse Dudes
Turbonegro
Sure the opening is just ripped from Pinball Wizard?! Hard to assess the purposeful use of language with English not being their first language…but still…Reading that there is a satirical edge to them, which reassures a bit. Punk/glam/rock mash up, with fairly solid song structure and composition but just pretty basic, predictable and cheesy. Production so-so. Got good energy but just feels like it really falls short of great punk albums. Kind of like a bad fake version of high quality brand item. Variations on a theme and a comical theme. ‘Rendezvous with Anus’ 🙄 can’t really tell how much of it is meant to be satirical, but not sure punk spinal tap should be in the top 1001 albums! Probably just about gets 2.5?
2
May 23 2025
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Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Such a unique sound, instantly knowing it is them, just from the first ten seconds of instrumental. Stoner Rock and album has more of a feel of a demo, than finished album, but fair for first release and remastered later. Kinda samey and a steady trot through the signature sound and similar tracks. Surprised ‘Songs for the Deaf’ isn’t in the list instead/as well. But a unique debut all the same and worthy for its originality. Some nice experimentation and off beats, but a bit, “okay, I get it” by the end
3
May 24 2025
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Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
First thought is geez, these guys are
Popular. Nearly 30m monthly listens, 55 years after this album and I’d never even heard of them before. Gritty vocals, great groove and soulful. Very pleasantly surprised and hard to not pull a gritty face and neck groove! Keep on Chooglin’! ‘Graveyard train’ a bit draggy and long, but brings another type of tune to the album. Short, punchy, efficient album that is consistent throughout and doesn’t overstay its welcome. And ‘Proud Mary’ did not know this is where it originated!
4
May 25 2025
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Penthouse And Pavement
Heaven 17
Enjoyed more than expected and grew on me as I got into the album and accepted it for what it was. 80s electro/synth pop with some nifty samples and experimentation. Bordering on parody at times and a kind of pet shop boys / Alan Partridge bass mash up. But good fun and energy. Would expect to really not like this but something is just getting under my skin, in a playful, fun way. Interesting history with BEF and Human League. There is something cheekily infectious about this album. (3.5)
3
May 26 2025
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Trafalgar
Bee Gees
Seriously boring downbeat pop. 4/4 throughout, drags, vocals are annoying, breathy and repetitive tremolo effect. Yawn. ‘Somebody stop the music’ indeed (although this brings a tiny bit of groove - and brass. And a kind of Beatles sound, like on ‘Trafalgar’.) try to bring some passion into the end of ‘Lion in Winter’ but just sounds awful. God this album is depressing, dragging and basic.
2
May 27 2025
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Ramones
Ramones
Short, catchy, punchy songs. Classic sound and the epitome of punk. A lot of energy to them and quite like the frenetic pace and shorter songs. Edging on repetitive and a bit samey. Influence on so many bands and punk as a whole clear.
Not sure I’d go towards it as a listen by choice, often, but appreciate it for what it is. At one point, didn’t even realise it had gone through three songs, and thought it was one, due to length and similar sounding throughout.
Yeh, getting quite tired of the same drum beat and structure throughout now, some slight variety in the last few songs.
3
May 28 2025
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Hysteria
Def Leppard
First impressions are solid groove, more face pulling, head banging but also songs felt a bit long at times. Maybe especially after some shorter albums, but thought it was ready to end a few times.
Good sound and production. Good, clean, classic rock anthems but also with enough variety in songs to keep it fresh enough. Vocals sound Axel Rosey at times.
Did not know “pour some sugar on me” were the words, nor the artist! What a banger. Full face screw unlocked. Maybe slightly downhill from there. Close to 3.5 but might just miss out
3
May 29 2025
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Brown Sugar
D'Angelo
Was initially quite bored by this album. Just felt like standard R&B, set structure and backing track ion loop with soft, whiny, annoying, high vocals.
However, came to appreciate the jazz and musical arrangements featured throughout. Tired of the voice, feel and subject, but some good use of instruments in places and more techy than usual modern R&B backing. Neo-soul?
Just 2/5 for overall quality experience, but easy 3/5 for arrangement/jazz features so probably scrapes 2.5
2
May 30 2025
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Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
Much prefer to other punk albums I’ve heard on the list. More variety, cleaner and surprising elements than say something like the Ramones. Great opening track and probably my favourite in the album
3