May 05 2025
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Guero
Beck
Only Beck album I had heard before was Sea Change. That's a record I loved from the first listen. Not the case here. I like a lot of it, very interesting mix of styles and use of textures and loops, but unfortunately sometimes this happens at the expense of the song. That said, when it's good it's great (and when it's not great it makes me want to watch that episode of Futurama). Would give 3.5 stars if possible.
Favourite tunes: E-Pro, Girl, Earthquake Weather, Send a Message to Her.
3
May 06 2025
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I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
I once read that Aretha was the only singer who was able to move between church and secular music while being accepted by both, - not just because her father was a Reverend but because she was so talented.This album proves it, and benefits from the two worlds. An incredible mix of gospel with blues and soul, great arrangements, incredible guitar playing. The voice isn't bad either.
Favourite tunes: Soul Serenade, Good Times, I Never Loved a Man, RESPEC...
4
May 07 2025
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Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix
A record on a higher plane. A double album of Hendrix being an absolute pioneer and a force of nature. Reaching cosmic heights while channeling the best energy of his time. Genuinely transformative guitar playing.
Favourite tunes: Crosstown Traffic, House Burning Down, Gypsy Eyes, ...Slight Return, All Along the Watchtower.
5
May 08 2025
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A Night At The Opera
Queen
More like A Night At The Vaudeville. Okay, it's Queen... we expect campness but some of it veered a little to close to cheesy for my taste. Still, even this is incredibly well executed. As for the rest; a great record. Some burning guitars and Freddy magic. Also let's be fair, it has Bohemian Rhapsody.
Favourite tunes (aside from the obvious):
Death on Two Legs, '39, Sweet Lady.
4
May 09 2025
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A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
Rush of blood to the head and nowhere else... this is flacid music. It's not even that bad, it's worse. It's fine. Its nothing. It's middle class wallpaper. Music for accounts. I thought it was their first album until I was finished. Where's the progression? They became like diet Radiohead as well as diet Oasis?
There's some okay guitar parts and In My Place is fun to play in a cover band but there's not much else.
2
May 10 2025
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Dookie
Green Day
I was a teenager in the early '00s and had spent my childhood listening to my dad's old punk albums (and the Undertones were particular favourites). No shock that this record is a seminal one for me. The same energy but by a band who were still young. Punk, but for mt generation. It really was one of the defining albums of my youth and it still hold ups. I still love those drums and the bass lines, and I still know all the words. A perfect adolescent album, made more impressive by the fact that he recorded all the vocals in little over a weekend in his early twenties.
Favourite tunes: Burn Out, She, When I Come Around, Welcome to Paradise
5
May 10 2025
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She's So Unusual
Cyndi Lauper
The '80s production got pretty tiresome but overall it's actually a very good pop album. Obviously the singles are classics and her voice is its own thing but quite a few other bangers on there too.
Favourite tunes: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Witness, Money Changes Everything
3
May 11 2025
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Copper Blue
Sugar
At first I thought it was as if Nine Inch Nails were a Britpop band (in a good way), but in the end it was just Bob Mould doing a commercial imitation of bands he influenced. Not terrible but not memorable, and certainly wouldn't be on this list if it wasn't for the great Hüsker Dü.
3
May 12 2025
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Lost Souls
Doves
Half of the album is really cool, quite atmospheric and almost ambient with really interesting textures. The other half veers more into Incubus meets Radiohead territory, not bad but not so compelling. Enjoyable listen but won't be rushing back to it.
3
May 13 2025
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In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
Already a huge favourite of mine, with one of the greatest opening tracks of all time. Excellent in the pocket proto-prog. Little bit far out at times, but it's reaching for something special and catches it for the most part.
4
May 14 2025
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Southern Rock Opera
Drive-By Truckers
There was some nice guitar tones and interesting note choices, and a few good tunes buried in there but really... I have so many questions about this record.
Why is it a double album? Why is it on this list? Why listen to people sing about Skynyrd when you could just listen to them? If you want the balls to the wall punk stuff, go for Social Distortion. If you want the alt country thing, go for Hank Williams 3. If you want to listen to this flabby, indulgent, generic labyrinth, go fuck yourself.
1
May 15 2025
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Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
Incredible record. Some of the best Electronic music I've ever heard. Those beats and the production mixed with the vocals and guitar... it's an album I will return to for sure.
5
May 16 2025
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Street Signs
Ozomatli
Very cool Latin rock mix. Little bit generic and verging on cheesy at times, but for the most part a really interesting and enjoyable listen. Super groovy and nice mix of languages - spoken and musical.
3
May 17 2025
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Live!
Fela Kuti
Always wondered what Ginger Baker did after Cream to justify that reputation and ego. Now I know. It's the world's greatest jam band and a blinding live record. Great banter from Fela between songs too. And that drum solo...
4
May 18 2025
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Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
Very groovy album. Lifted my mood, transported my somewhere brighter. Great guitar parts. Not totally accessible because of my own ignorance but a very cool listen.
3
May 19 2025
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Tago Mago
Can
Was introduced to Can just a few months ago in a squat in Berlin. They've been on my list to check out again since so I was happy to see this album here, and at first I thought it was really worth the wait. Very strong start, thought it would be a 4 or even 5 star album. Cool tunes and vocals, and great guitar parts that clearly had a big influence over a lot if indie players since. Became very unfocused in the middle though, some interesting stuff but nothing cohesive. Okay again and the end, quite Dada-ist, but I felt some relief when it was all over.
3
May 20 2025
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C'est Chic
CHIC
I've always been a hard line disco sucks punk fan, and this album doesn't change that. It's full of cheese and the songs aren't always there, but the pocket is undeniable. Nile is a beast of course and the bass lines are huge. It hasn't converted me but I do have huge admiration and respect for the musicianship. More funk less gloss, then it'd be something special.
3
May 21 2025
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A Wizard, A True Star
Todd Rundgren
Tell me you have adhd without telling me.
It'd a shame because there are some great moments on this record, but it's equal parts great, goofy nonsense and absolute wank. If you cut out all the shite it could be a very good album, but the wacky stuff gets in the way, and this becomes increasingly annoying. Maybe that's the point, but makes it very hard to rate this highly as a cohesive work.
2
May 22 2025
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Hejira
Joni Mitchell
This issue with this app is that sometimes a day isn't enough to take in the albums. This is one such case. On first listen it's a strong three or four star record, but the more time you spend with it the more you get from it.
I love her early albums of course, but this is a masterpiece. Heavy, floating, ambiguous. Classic indefinable Jonie, on another level - it's an incredible mix of the greatest folk player with jazz giants. Nevermind Portrait of Tracy, this is Jaco's most sublime playing. Lary Carlton complimenting everything so perfectly too. A truly beautiful record.
5
May 23 2025
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Murder Ballads
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Now that was a worthy record. Incredible. The album that elevated Nick Cave to the rare space occupied by Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. Almost like a haunting, heavy audio book - Bukowski meets Bret Easton Ellis, with perfect music/delivery and stunning vocals throughout. Great tongue in check ending, and an absolute treat to hear Shane McGowan take a line too.
5
May 24 2025
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Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Started off absolutely five stars and maybe dropped a little by the end, but full of good stuff. Great writing, great playing, amazing vocals.
4
May 25 2025
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Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Starts with Thunder Road. 6 stars!
Fun Fact: Bruce traced his Irish ancestry to a small village called Rathangan. It's where I went to school. During his last tour he visited the area, drank a Guinness in our local bar and sang a tune. What a man.
5
May 26 2025
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Raising Hell
Run-D.M.C.
Been meaning to listen to this record for a long time because it's always listed as a seminal hip hop album. Can totally see it. Maybe not as impactful now as it was then, but still a great listen. Great flow and delivery, and absolutely killer beats behind it. Of course I already knew the classics, but that last tune is a genuine anthem.
4
May 27 2025
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Hotel California
Eagles
Surprised not to be giving this 5 stars, but just because some of its great doesn't mean all of it is. Some incredible moments and world class tunes, but also some moments where it fell into middle of the road soft rock. Blinding guitar playing throughout though.
4
May 28 2025
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Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
Very good. Like, very very very very good.
5