Aug 03 2025
The Last Broadcast
Doves
Not terrible, but also not good. Heavily Coldplay influenced and generically new wave/alternative. Only interesting song for me was NY. Everything else is background at best and annoyingly reminiscent of Chris Martin at worst
2
Aug 04 2025
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
Absolutely brilliant album, created the Blueprint for 80s and 90s alternative, not a wasted minute anywhere. Ian Curtis was a great vocalist and the band is incredible. One of the best ever
5
Aug 05 2025
Diamond Life
Sade
A slow jams classic, incredible vocals and a top notch band execute an all time sexy R&B record. Drops off a bit at the end, but very strong, rewards multiple listens. This one really sticks with you
4
Aug 06 2025
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
One of my favorite albums of all time and the greatest protest/socially conscious record ever. Still completely relevant, every song, every lyric, not a thing has changed since Marvin first sang these songs. And of course, the music is incredible and Marvin’s vocals are impeccable. A desert island disc for me.
5
Aug 07 2025
Graceland
Paul Simon
My second ever concert was Paul Simon on this tour, so it’s a sentimental favorite. It’s also a terrific record that introduced me (and many others) to several new musical styles. Great set of songs and incredible musicianship.
4
Aug 08 2025
Sign 'O' The Times
Prince
I’m a big fan of Prince but I’ve never thought this was his best work and never understood why it’s generally accepted that it is. Disc 2 is absolutely a 5, banger after banger. But disc 1? A bunch of songs that either should have been left as B sides or work much better live (Housequake is the primary example of this, crushed live, flat here imo). The Sign O The Times lyrics sound like MAGA propaganda in 2025 and even in 87 they were cringe. This would have been an absolutely all timer as a single album. As a double, it’s very good but flawed.
4
Aug 09 2025
1999
Prince
If Sign O The Times is the White Album, the sprawling eclectic experimental brilliant but flawed sketchbook of a genius, 1999 is Abbey Road, 70 minutes of absolute perfection. Landmark of pop, rock, funk, and R&B, this is the album where it all came together for Prince after several excellent records. The first side is stacked with absolute classics, but everything that follows is on the same level of genius.
5
Aug 10 2025
Emperor Tomato Ketchup
Stereolab
This is a fun listen, not my usual genre but really enjoyed most of it, great catchy pop mixed with electronica and rock and more. Some of the tracks on the back half of the album get a bit tedious and repetitive for me, but overall really good and will definitely return to hear this again.
3
Aug 11 2025
The Specials
The Specials
I didn’t enjoy this at all. I can’t stand ska. I never need to hear a single note of this ever again.
1
Aug 12 2025
Hounds Of Love
Kate Bush
I fully expected to struggle through this album. Before today, I’d heard Running (liked it) and Wuthering Heights (did not like it). Three listens in and I am absolutely in awe of this record.
The first side is pretty close to perfect. Just outstanding pop music that sounds like nothing that came before. And obviously influenced a LOT of what came after.
Side 2 is an interesting cycle, and I enjoy it overall, but it doesn’t hold my interest quite as much, esp the jig, but whatever, step up to the plate and take a big swing. Kate connects way more than she whiffs here.
This should have been massive here in the States but apparently we preferred Bananarama.
4
Aug 13 2025
Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
I didn’t enjoy this at all. Not bad, just aggressively dull.
2
Aug 14 2025
The Who Sell Out
The Who
Ive been a fan of the Who my whole life but never liked this album on the past. This time around, I enjoyed it! The concept is still not my favorite and I find the ads pretty annoying. Still, there are a number of strong songs and overall I enjoyed it through several listens
3
Aug 15 2025
Music For The Jilted Generation
The Prodigy
This is good dance music, and would surely be really fun to hear in a club, set and setting, but just sitting at my desk and hearing thunk thunk thunk is just kinda, ok, cool. Anyway, for what it is, heavy industrial dance with a social bent, it’s good. Would never again just sit and listen to it but in the right context, good stuff
3
Aug 16 2025
The Dark Side Of The Moon
Pink Floyd
What more is there to say about this masterpiece? Either you get it or you don’t I suppose. Absolutely one of the greatest all time works of western music.
5
Aug 17 2025
Screamadelica
Primal Scream
This was completely new to me, which is wild given my love for this era of British pop and rock. I really enjoyed this, some of the more Stones influenced stuff was just ok (Movin On Up, Damaged) but a lot of great tunes here.
4
Aug 18 2025
For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music
Already a big fan of Roxy Music, this is my second favorite after Country Life. If only Eno and Ferry could have coexisted for a few more albums. Do The Strand and Editions of You are an incredible blend of pop and weirdness.
4
Aug 19 2025
Surf's Up
The Beach Boys
Back at it with the albums. First catch up, Surfs Up, Beach Boys. I really tried, I’m a BB fan, but think one isn’t good. The production is very good and every thing sounds great but the actual songs, a bunch of stinkers. And then, suddenly, we reach the end and Til I Die and Surfs Up are right there with Brian’s best work. Surfs Up in particular is brilliant. This is the end of the classic BB period and almost falls completely flat but for the end. Good enough to earn this one a 3/5
3
Aug 20 2025
Licensed To Ill
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys, License to ill. Ok, I love the Beasties and I think Paul’s Boutique is the Mona Lisa of hip hop sampling and Gen X white guy rapping (Eminem is another category entirely). LTI otoh is kind of a rough listen. I think the two records from my generation that are way more important than they are good are Licensed to I’ll and Becks Mellow Gold, they both laid down the blueprint for a very Gen X style of music but neither one of them holds up next to the rest of their respective catalogs. I have a ton of nostalgia for Fight for Your Right and Girls and No Sleep Til Brooklyn but this is all so juvenile and stupid. If Rick Rubin has any genius at all, and I’m not sure he does, but here is his best case, as he’s really the guy that fused metal and hip hop together with all of the Zep and Sabbath samples here. Not to mention Walk This Way
2
Aug 21 2025
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
There aren’t many albums that can boast producing as many standards as this one has: Girl From Ipanema, Doralice, Desafinado, Corcovado, So Danco Samba, just an incredible record, beautiful composition and brilliant musicianship. An all time great record.
5
Aug 22 2025
Low-Life
New Order
Pretty solid 80s dance pop record. Enjoyed it overall, pretty nostalgic as everything sounded like this for a minute when I was a kid. Love Vigilantes, Perfect Kiss and Sunrise are great tracks.
3
Aug 23 2025
Lost In The Dream
The War On Drugs
I will never understand all of the love this band and this particular album get. Have any of you ever heard Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, or Tom Petty? They shamelsssly steal from those three, yet somehow makes it all less interesting, more vanilla, and incredibly bland. Imagine a CD created to play in a Starbucks that will be familiar enough to get the white people tapping their toes but also inoffensive enough that no one objects. That is this album.
2
Aug 24 2025
Yank Crime
Drive Like Jehu
I don’t typically listen to hardcore or punk, but enjoyed this one. Some great tracks and some others that weren’t for me. Even a bit of prog thrown in for good measure. Enjoyable listen
3
Aug 25 2025
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
I have loved this album for 40 years, so I was pretty happy to see it pop up. Ok, maybe “happy” and Nebraska don’t naturally go together. One of Bruce’s finest sets of songs and I love that they went with the demos over a full E Street album that would have taken some of the magic and pathos out of these beautifully tragic songs. It’s tough to make solo acoustic interesting across an entire album, Bruce shows us how it’s done.
4
Aug 26 2025
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
This is one of my all time favorites. Side 1 may be my favorite side of any album. Absolute perfection. Side 2 gets weird in the best ways. I like every TH record but they really crushed this one. I imagine if one had read an article about Talking Heads working on an album with Brian Eno that was heavily influenced by Fela Kuti, one might have be justifiably skeptical. But goddammit they pulled it off.
5
Aug 27 2025
Dr. Octagonecologyst
Dr. Octagon
This is an interesting record, but I’m not sure it rises to the level of “must hear”. The music is great, love the beats and Keith’s flow, but the lyrics/concept are basically what you’d get if you locked 10 12 year olds in a room and told them to write dirty jokes. I’m not offended by the content, just by the lack of humor or originality. Great beats, great flow, puerile rhymes.
3
Aug 28 2025
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Quite simply one of the greatest records by anyone in any genre. Stevie is one of the GOATs and I honestly can’t believe that this isn’t a 5 here. People listen to this and think, nah, I’d rather hear (insert tepid garbage)? JFC.
5
Aug 29 2025
Exile In Guyville
Liz Phair
One of the greatest records albums of the 90s, incredible song after incredible song. Liz rode an incredible wave of inspiration that populated her first three records with great songs, but most of the best ones are here. Everything after that is garbage and it honestly one of the most shocking drop offs of any artist I can think of. Anyway, she gets a free pass for this record alone. I guess if you weren’t around in the 90s, you can’t understand what this record meant to people and how revolutionary it was. Read a book, y’all
4
Aug 30 2025
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
I like this record, it’s fun. I love a rock band that plays dance music. Rock and roll is supposed to be fun and these guys get the party started. They are solid live. Is there anything earth shattering or even slightly original here? No there is not. Is it a fun listen anyway? Yes it is
3
Aug 31 2025
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
Mark E Smith isn’t really here for casual listening. But whenever I hear The Fall, I like it. Never heard this one, their first, but it is very very good. I can see how they aren’t for everyone but if you enjoy a belligerent drunken Englishman shouting at you over the sound of a killer post punk band playing their asses off, have I got a record for you.
4
Sep 01 2025
C'est Chic
CHIC
All time dance record, with incredible composition and performance from Nile Rogers and Bernard Edward’s. The only track here I didn’t enjoy was At Last I Am Free
4
Sep 02 2025
Marquee Moon
Television
The best album of the post punk era and a huge influence on new wave and so much of what followed.
5