Jul 31 2025
Diamond Life
Sade
At first youโre cynical and presume this is one of those jazzy 80s things with a bass player with his axe strapped up too far, but it doesnโt take long to succumb to the quality of the first three tracks. Five of these songs are very familiar radio hits; the close listening on headphones reveals lovely double tracked harmonies and very slick percussion. Still loungey and not really my thing, but her voice is beautiful and the whole thing is perfectly realised. Some filler on Side Two, where you donโt realise the time has gone but youโre on to the final track. Highlight: Your Love is King, and the really patient build to the vocal on Why Canโt We Live Together? Low points: Sweet as Cherry Pie and the line about sticking together hand in glove.
4
Aug 01 2025
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
Tasteful. Clear to see why itโs a classic. Lots of room in the mix and swagger in the band. Getz plays sax in an effortless series of phrases and the vocals are chilled and a little exotic. In keeping with yesterdayโs Sadรฉ, this is something to hear at a dinner where the wine is better than the risotto and youโre hoping for a big dessert to make up for the fact that the starter was soup. Lovely, but really, really tasteful.
4
Aug 02 2025
1984
Van Halen
On which the band tries synths and sounds like every other 80s rock except for the guitar, which is amazing but frequently shoehorned in, and Daveโs characteristic swagger, which is mainly incoherent. Their first record is ten million times better, but Jump and Panama are terrific and the rest? Not so much.
2
Aug 03 2025
Appetite For Destruction
Guns N' Roses
A whole lot of record. At its worst itโs a little Crue-ish but the guitar reminds me of the Pistols now and again and I love it when Paradise City ends and you realise itโs still only half way through. I never bother with the last two tracks, but this is a real classic.
5
Aug 04 2025
Jazz Samba
Stan Getz
3
Aug 05 2025
Dusty In Memphis
Dusty Springfield
4
Aug 06 2025
White Light / White Heat
The Velvet Underground
4
Aug 07 2025
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
3
Aug 08 2025
Nick Of Time
Bonnie Raitt
Very tasteful, with that VH1 sheen, but the songs and the singing are impressive .
4
Aug 09 2025
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
3
Aug 10 2025
Coles Corner
Richard Hawley
4
Aug 11 2025
Electric Music For The Mind And Body
Country Joe & The Fish
3
Aug 12 2025
Exodus
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Takes a little while to get going but has several moments of greatness.
4
Aug 13 2025
Psychocandy
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Far romantic than anyone would admit at the time, this is also a great, cool, noisy album and it contains Taste The Floor, one of the truly great tracks, like, ever.
5
Aug 14 2025
Mott
Mott The Hoople
3
Aug 15 2025
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
3
Aug 16 2025
Bayou Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival
2