Jun 09 2025
461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton
How well I knew this album already out of ten (HWIKTAA): 3
High points: Motherless Child, Please Be With Me (reminds me a bit of CSN), Let It Grow
Meh point: Willie and the Hand Jive, Get Ready
Notes:
Great live feel to the production.
Overall a pretty boring and slow album with a couple good tracks.
2
Jun 10 2025
Hot Rats
Frank Zappa
HWIKTAA: 1
High point: Willie the Pimp! I could listen to this kind of jamming forever. No wonder Trey is such a fan.
Low point: can't pick one. It's all good.
3
Jun 11 2025
L.A. Woman
The Doors
HWIKTAA: 5
High point: "LA Woman" and "Riders on the Storm" are great and justly famous, but the real hidden gem here is "The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)". Jim's psychedelic rap supported by the band in full acid mode. Awesome stuff.
Low point: "Cars Hiss By My Window" is kind of phoned-in. Not a bad song, just not a lot of effort there, and it overstays its welcome.
3
Jun 12 2025
Pretenders
Pretenders
HWIKTAA: 5
4
Jun 13 2025
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
HWIKTAA: 10
Easy five.
5
Jun 14 2025
The Stranger
Billy Joel
HWIKTAA: 10
His peak. A 70s pop masterpiece.
4
Jun 15 2025
Bryter Layter
Nick Drake
HWIKTAA: 1
Very pretty music. Would listen to again.
3
Jun 16 2025
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
Just not my thing. I guess I don't dig the "I want to sound like I don't give a shit" style of vocals.
1
Jun 17 2025
Hail To the Thief
Radiohead
Not the best post-OK Computer (In Rainbows) offering from Radiohead, also not the worst (King of Limbs). I haven't listened to this album for a long time now, and I think I know why. Very little of it has stuck with me as being "essential Radiohead songs." 2+2=5 might be the closest, but if you asked me to give you a list of 20 Radiohead songs you should know, even that one wouldn't make the list. A decent album that just hasn't aged well.
3
Jun 18 2025
If I Could Only Remember My Name
David Crosby
Pleasant and pretty background music. Nothing earth-shattering.
2
Jun 19 2025
Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
Does anyone sound more like the 60s than the Byrds do? Good album, but I’m not convinced it’s their best.
3
Jun 20 2025
Homework
Daft Punk
Enjoyable EDM.
3
Jun 21 2025
You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fatboy Slim
Good for what it is, but incredibly repetitive (the nature of the genre, I suppose).
3
Jun 22 2025
I See A Darkness
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Just not my thing. I suppose it has some musical merit, and some of the melodies are pretty, but everything just kind of ran together.
2
Jun 23 2025
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Not quite as good as LA Woman but still a fun bunch of songs by Jim & the boys. Roadhouse Blues is always a riot to listen to.
3
Jun 24 2025
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Some very famous songs and some filler. Like the Byrds, not many bands sound like the 60s like CCR do. Good album.
3
Jun 25 2025
Violator
Depeche Mode
While "Music for the Masses" is my favorite of Depeche Mode's albums, "Violator" is their absolute peak. They are in TOP FORM. No skips (unlike MftM). Favorite songs (in no particular order): Halo (ok, that's my favorite), Personal Jesus, Clean, Policy of Truth.
5
Jun 26 2025
The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Pink Floyd
Pre-Gilmour Floyd. Mesmerising stuff. Syd Barrett’s psychedelic ge jus on full display. The first four tracks are fantastic, drenched in LSD and full speed ahead. I love this album!
4
Jun 27 2025
Trafalgar
Bee Gees
Pre-disco Bee Gees, a period for which they’re (perhaps unfortunately) not remembered as often. It’s pretty baroque pop with lots and lots of string arrangements. Ultimately the album is a bit too long for me, they’ve said what they need to eight songs in. “The Greatest Man in the World” is a gorgeous song.
3
Jun 28 2025
The Low End Theory
A Tribe Called Quest
A hip hop landmark. Busta on “Scenario” is historic. Great album and one I (not normally a hip hop listener) can hear over and over again.
4
Jun 29 2025
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
40 years later this remains an astounding, if at times problematic, piece of work.
4
Jun 30 2025
White Light
Gene Clark
Pleasant but boring. Not my thing.
2
Jul 01 2025
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Three amazing songs, and eight very good ones.
3
Jul 02 2025
Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
Perfect, timeless voice. Beautiful music.
4
Jul 03 2025
A Rush Of Blood To The Head
Coldplay
One of the greatest pop albums of the 2000s. This is their peak.
3
Jul 04 2025
Fear Of A Black Planet
Public Enemy
ITANOMTHUB has always been my favorite PE album, but this one might be their best. Angry, thrilling, frightening.
4
Jul 05 2025
Cloud Nine
The Temptations
I didn’t know a single song on this album but it still cooks.
4
Jul 06 2025
Since I Left You
The Avalanches
Always interesting sometimes thrilling album of that appears to made entirely of samples. Would spin again!
3
Jul 07 2025
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Beautiful, ethereal contemporary country music. I love this album.
4
Jul 14 2025
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
At this point in the mid-1960s, both the Stones and the Beatles were releasing slightly differing track listings for their albums. That’s the case with Aftermath, so I listened to both. It’s an incredible album (US version has Paint It Black, UK doesn’t, UK version has Mother’s Little Helper, US doesn’t), and is said to be an audible relic of Swinging London. I think it’s the first truly great Stones album.
4
Jul 15 2025
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Pogues
Incredible album. Their best and my favorite of theirs. We’ve now lost both Kristy and Shane. RIP Legends.
4
Jul 16 2025
Let's Get Killed
David Holmes
Some interesting stuff here, and very listenable. Probably not something I'll choose to listen to again though.
3
Jul 17 2025
The Last Of The True Believers
Nanci Griffith
Really enjoyable, twangy but not too much, beautiful country music. I’d listen again.
3
Jul 18 2025
Highly Evolved
The Vines
Nirvana and Radiohead influences are undeniable. Very good album though, would listen again.
3
Jul 19 2025
American Idiot
Green Day
Prior to today, I’d never listened to American Idiot the entire way through. I know more than a few of the songs of course, but taken as a whole it’s an astounding piece of work.
4
Jul 23 2025
Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Wu-Tang Clan
Amazing hip-hop album. I can't claim to understand everything's meaning or significance, but I can still recognize quality.
4
Jul 24 2025
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
RIP Ozzy. This wonderful album invented heavy metal. Every moment is influential.
5
Jul 25 2025
Bright Flight
Silver Jews
I generally dislike ironically-delivered vocals. David Berman sounds like he's trying to score points with the Pitchfork crowd by not giving a shit. Some of the songs were interesting, and some had some genuinely good moments (Tennessee).
2
Jul 26 2025
Pornography
The Cure
One of the most depressing albums ever. But it is glorious. Robert Smith’s late 70s to earl 80s misery gave us some inspired art,
And this is the best of the lot. Perfect for a rainy day with a glass of whiskey.
4
Jul 27 2025
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
I haven’t heard this album in over 30 years. It came out when I was in college and I remember that it stunned everyone. Listening to it now was like hearing it brand new all over again. No skips, every song hits. Unbelievable album.
5
Jul 28 2025
Sound of Silver
LCD Soundsystem
I actually like this more than I expected to. Reading through some of the reviews I assumed this would be extremely repetitive but I was pleasantly surprised! Some songs go in for a bit longer than perhaps they should, but start to finish this was really enjoyable.
3
Jul 29 2025
Who's Next
The Who
Easily one of my favorite albums, ever. My buddy Jack lent this to me on cassette in 9th grade. A perfect rock album.
5
Jul 30 2025
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Very enjoyable album. I don't think I was familiar with any of the songs from this one, which is weird, because my exposure to Mr. McManus isn't limited.
3
Jul 31 2025
Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches
Happy Mondays
Lots of fun, college memories at the dawn of Madchester.
3
Aug 01 2025
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
A love-it or hate-it album, for sure. I love it, but it took me a few listens to get to that point. And when people tell me they hate it, I don't rush to its defense like I would with others. This is also an instance of separating art from the artist since Van is a well-known bell end.
5
Aug 02 2025
The Next Day
David Bowie
My hot take is that I like this one better than Black Star. Both are amazing albums, this one is just a little bit better. The album cover is the worst ever, though.
4
Aug 03 2025
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
I need to listen to this album more, could be a 5 for me eventually.
4
Aug 04 2025
Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
Solid metal album. Again, would probably become a 5 in my book if I listened to it more, which I will be doing.
4
Aug 05 2025
A Night At The Opera
Queen
An astounding record. Total camp, Queen/Freddie style. So much fun to listen to, there are layers here probably still being discovered.
5
Aug 06 2025
Tres Hombres
ZZ Top
Fantastic blues rock. Set the standard for all the AOR dudes that followed. What's fascinating about this record for me is that you can hear hints of what ZZ would become in the 80s, but this is still fundamentally grounded in 1970s tones.
4
Aug 07 2025
Head Hunters
Herbie Hancock
Thrilling funk up front, smooth funk to close. Great album.
4
Aug 08 2025
Lazer Guided Melodies
Spiritualized
Parts of this album are really cool. Other parts are kinda meh.
3
Aug 09 2025
Hotel California
Eagles
There are three things bother me about this otherwise-incredible album. (1) Glen Frey has only one lead vocal. He was my favorite Eagle. (2) why do we need a symphonic version of Wasted Years? It’s pretty but not really necessary. (3) I’ve never really like “Life in the fast lane.” Everything else is amazing.
4
Aug 10 2025
Arise
Sepultura
Good thrash album, but I think it suffers from a lack of dynamics - changes in guitar tone, speed, vocal delivery and general songwriting would have made this album rate higher for me. I've heard Chaos AD is a better album, which I'll be sure to listen to.
3
Aug 11 2025
Wonderful Rainbow
Lightning Bolt
I can't say that I enjoy noise rock (does anyone?) but there were a few interesting moments here.
2
Aug 12 2025
Neon Bible
Arcade Fire
This is a solid Arcade Fire album, and it stands up as one of the better releases of that year. However: Funeral and Suburbs are so much better than Neon Bible.
3
Aug 13 2025
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Obviously a classic and important album in the history of soul and funk. If "Everyday People" doesn't get you moving you may need to restart yourself.
5
Aug 14 2025
Teenager Of The Year
Frank Black
Good but long. Albums shouldn't overstay their welcome.
3
Aug 15 2025
At Mister Kelly's
Sarah Vaughan
Why was this album released? She's obviously got vocal chops for a fantastic live album, but she doesn't know the words to some of the songs and tells the audience that before just skat-ing (How High the Moon). It's just not a very good performance.
2
Aug 16 2025
Grace
Jeff Buckley
Fucking beautiful. If there was any justice in the world, Jeff would be the biggest music star on the planet right now.
5
Aug 17 2025
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
An exceptional album from Stevie’s classic period. It’s a testament to Stevie’s prolificness that this, his 17th studio album is considered “classic Stevie.” No skips, and despite its title “Please Don’t Go,” the album closer, is one of the most joyous, smile-inducing songs I’ve ever heard.
5
Aug 18 2025
Ray Of Light
Madonna
Such a great dance album. A late 90s return to form for Madge.
4
Aug 19 2025
Van Halen
Van Halen
There are a number of songs that, having plugged in an electric guitar at a guitar store, you just don't play. If you do, the employees will automatically brand you a douche. One of those songs is "Eruption," the second track on this, one of the greatest debut albums in hard rock history. Have I tried to learn how to play Eruption? Certainly. I'd be willing to bet most guitarists have. But -- only in the privacy of my own home.
5
Aug 20 2025
Moss Side Story
Barry Adamson
I don't know what I'm listening to, nor why I need to listen to this. Other reviews call this a soundtrack for a film that doesn't exist, and that's pretty close. At best, this is background music that slips in one ear and out the other. At worst, it's just noise.
1
Aug 21 2025
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
Some great tracks, but too much boasting about one’s dick, and way too much reliance on “motherfucker” drag this one down a bit. Do love Snoop’s contributions though.
3
Aug 22 2025
Manassas
Stephen Stills
Kind of boring, tbh. Production is good, vocals are nice, songwriting is a bit tepid.
3
Aug 23 2025
There's No Place Like America Today
Curtis Mayfield
Funky grooves for 36 minutes. Helluva enjoyable listening experience. Will return to this soon.
4
Aug 24 2025
Roxy Music
Roxy Music
A fore-runner of New Wave, also anticipated its offshoot, the sophisti-pop movement. Great musicianship from all band members. I'm really impressed with this album.
4
Aug 25 2025
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
The Incredible String Band
I'm glad I've heard it. And now I'm glad I probably don't need to hear it again. I'm not really certain how to react to this. I have enjoyed plenty of psychedelic music over the years, and I think the key to making it good is not relying on acid cliche all the time. The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter instead fires on all psychedelic cylinders all the time, and it's tiresome almost instantly. Blech. The music is interesting from time-to-time, as is the variety of instruments used.
2
Aug 26 2025
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
Public Enemy
A nuclear bomb when it was released. I have so many fond memories of this album. In hindsight, I think Fear of a Black Planet is slightly better, but this is still my favorite by them.
4
Aug 27 2025
The Grand Tour
George Jones
I generally don't listen to country with a few exceptions, and most of those are female (I'm a dude). I do appreciate old-school country like Cash and Haggard, but I can't really get behind this one. I guess I prefer the outlaws.
2
Aug 28 2025
More Specials
The Specials
It’s hilarious how all over the place the reviews are for this one. More than usual for this site IMO. Whatever the case, this is perfectly fine ska. Not the genre’s pinnacle, but good.
3
Aug 29 2025
Sticky Fingers
The Rolling Stones
Third album in a run of greatness that may never be matched. The world's greatest rock and roll band delivers one of the great rock albums.
5