Sep 04 2025
Modern Life Is Rubbish
Blur
Very British. From first impression of track one, I can definitely see where future project came from. 100% not for me. Was kinda painful to listen to
2
Sep 05 2025
We Are Family
Sister Sledge
Oof... So while I'll agree that there is some damn fine musicianship here, it's still disco. It's very disco. And while there are gems in the genre, by and large disco sucks. Seriously some great playing going on, but... nope.
2
Sep 08 2025
Diamond Life
Sade
Mid 80s. Dominated the light rock radio, and I get why. Smooth, chill, jazzy pop. Is it something I would have picked out to listen or would pick out to on a regular basis? No probably not. But there's are some jams. Bassist straight going off on tracks like Hang On to Your Love.
3
Sep 09 2025
All Directions
The Temptations
Funky! 70s R&B cooool.
4
Sep 10 2025
Catch A Fire
Bob Marley & The Wailers
I'll admit that my exposure to Bob Marley is pretty much limited to his Greatest Hits album. I can see why this hits hard with some people. It's kinda the definition of crunchy. It's good, just not my flavor.
2
Sep 11 2025
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
It's the South Park goth kids in all the best ways. Post-punk, new wave. Arrangements feel simple and layered swimming in plate reverb. Melodies that stick to you like peanut butter on the roof of your mouth. Makes me want to get facial piercings, dye my hair black, and goth dance in the parking lot behind the gym.
4
Sep 12 2025
Marcus Garvey
Burning Spear
I can see and appreciate this other side of the 70s reggae scene. It's ok. Doesn't really speak to me. To me, middling and forgettable.
2
Sep 15 2025
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Not the greatest Led Zeppelin album, in my opinion. But it is damn good.
4
Sep 16 2025
Meat Is Murder
The Smiths
I can see why this is a classic for some folks. It's Morrisey but thankfully not a solo project. I'll admit to my fandom of some music that gets a pretentious and self indulgent. And thankfully it's reasonably reigned in here. My mouth has been soured by solo Morrisey. But this isn't really for me
2
Sep 17 2025
Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
I was working in a record store at the time this came out. It was at a time of musical discovery and taste shaping for me. Albums I wouldn't have normally listened to by that point were now being found. While this isn't one of those albums I found at that point, other bands of similar vein, from Portishead to The Prodigy, were definitely in the mix. I hadn't heard this particular album before today. I'm most familiar with 2002s, A Hundred Days Off.
I dig it. The layering here is super cool. While not everything works, it holds its own for keeping a vibe going. Just what you want from good electronica.
4
Sep 18 2025
Thriller
Michael Jackson
Q and Michael defining 1982. Solid stuff
4
Sep 19 2025
Immigrés
Youssou N'Dour
World music. As "world music" as that genre comes. It's not bad. But not something I'll be looking to listen to again. Not my cup of tea. Honestly closer to a 2.5 for me.
2
Sep 22 2025
Queen II
Queen
I was never fully exposed to Queen outside of radio singles and the occasional deep cut. Queen II is the reason to go down this journey. I'm giving it a 4, but it may change as I listen to it a few more times. The production is huge! The arrangements are intricate and developed. Arena prog rock finding it's way into becoming one of the biggest bands in the world.
4
Sep 23 2025
At Newport 1960
Muddy Waters
Oh damn! This... mmmm. Some good blues right here!
4
Sep 24 2025
Crime Of The Century
Supertramp
It's what people who don't like mid-70s British prog rock think mid-70s British prog rock sounds like.
It's ok. It's got it's moments. I'm a big fan of the era. But I find myself not getting the scratch my prog itch needs.
3
Sep 25 2025
Parallel Lines
Blondie
Not my taste. Blondie had a couple of hits from this album, but I found myself just waiting for it to be done with the rest of the tracks.
2
Sep 26 2025
The Chronic
Dr. Dre
Oh, The Chronic! Helped define early 90s hip hop. It hasn't necessarily aged well, particularly in it's lyrical content, but it was so influential in developing the West Coast sound. I'm having a hard time rating this one. It's not as good as 2001. 3 stars I think.
3
Sep 29 2025
Moving Pictures
Rush
I dig this era of Rush. All the way through it's a radio friendly prog that hooks me in. This is the era I'd have loved to have seen them live.
5
Sep 30 2025
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Bill Evans Trio
Rewards those who actively listen. It's good background jazz, but the musicality is straight up great.
4
Oct 01 2025
Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
Small Faces
It's... Interesting. 60s British psychedelic rock. Like other reviews, not sure how it landed at the top of the charts. Some of the tracks have some pretty awful mixes. Just wildly unbalanced. The music isn't bad, but it's not something I'll probably go back to .
Weak 3.
3
Oct 02 2025
I Am a Bird Now
Antony and the Johnsons
It's a beautiful album. The music is interesting and the vocals are intriguing. I like it, but I'm order to get 4 stars, I need to want to seek it out again, and it's just not for me.
High 3.5
3
Oct 03 2025
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Decent album. Nothing stood out for me really. I did dig the lofi-ness of it. Felt raw but almost in amateurish or naive way. Songwriting was decent. Reminded me of something Wes Anderson or the Cohen brothers might use in a movie.
3
Oct 06 2025
The World is a Ghetto
War
Killer jams. Great old 70s funk. It kicks off right with The Cisco Kid and keeps going. Dig this album. But going to the "will I seem this out to listen again?" Probably not, but I did enjoy it. 3.5
3
Oct 07 2025
Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin
Hey hey momma, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove. It's at that point you're led into a masterpiece of 70s stadium rock. The album is varied and layered in dynamics and style. Musicianship is on point. There's really no lull throughout. Definitely my favorite Zeppelin album by far.
5
Oct 08 2025
Stardust
Willie Nelson
I dig Willie! This was a fine album. Even for Willie though, this just felt dated. Solid 3 stars
3
Oct 09 2025
Ace of Spades
Motörhead
A shot of rock and roll with a rock and roll chaser. Fun, no bullshit rock. 🤘
4
Oct 10 2025
Timeless
Goldie
It's 1995. You've got your crappy, just a step above terrible, walkman headphones on. You've been banging on the Alesis drum machine you got for Christmas for hours. You somehow cobbled together enough money to pick up some sounds you can use on your "masterpiece" of an album. You think it sounds pretty good. Your mom barges in to tell at you to clean your room and then go touch grass just as your putting on the final touches. "I will, mom, gawd!"
1
Oct 13 2025
Murmur
R.E.M.
I think I'm more of a fan of their later work. It's good, but they dialed in their sound in subsequent albums. I can definitely see why their sound got picked up by college radio back in its day though.
3.5
3
Oct 14 2025
Music in Exile
Songhoy Blues
It was a good listen. It's the kind of thing that made me want to do this album a day . I would probably never have heard it otherwise. While I did dig it, it's not one of those things I'd probably seek out to listen again.
Though if I were on the streets in Mali and heard this band playing from a venue nearby, I'd definitely check it out.
3.5
3
Oct 15 2025
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
It was alright. Was a few years ahead of its time. Stylistically sounds like it came out during the mid 90s. I might not have paid enough attention to it or it just didn't hit me in the right way to really enjoy it. But it doesn't strike me as an album I'll be going back to. Might need another listen.
3.5
3
Oct 16 2025
Endtroducing.....
DJ Shadow
There's a nostalgia here for me. I dig this album. Not just for the decent tracks that it contains, but for the music that this album helped open. DJ Spooky, Kid Koala, RJD2, Dan the Automator. It was the music of the late 90s early 00s for me. Tricky 's Maxinque, Massive Attack's Mezzanine, and the Sneaker Pimps' Becoming X. Shadow went on then with UNKLE and the rest of his solo work. This shit has groove. While this isn't his best work, it still has some killer moves.
4
Oct 17 2025
Graceland
Paul Simon
Meh... I'll be honest. I didn't give it a good listen. It was on in the background while cleaning house today. It just didn't strike me. I might have to go back to it. I know the musicianship is top notch. But as it played, it didn't grab me at any point other than Al because it's so memorable and that baddass baseline
3
Oct 20 2025
Mothership Connection
Parliament
Oh funk yeah! Such a great album. Funk funkiest of the funky funk. This got played multiple times during the weekend. Loved it!
5
Oct 21 2025
OK Computer
Radiohead
It took me a couple of years after this came out to sit and appreciate it. Afterwards though, I was 100% hooked. This a true classic album for me. The type of songwriting and use of interesting textures was eye opening at the time. The beauty of Radiohead's sound only got more refined after this. The album gets into a regular rotation when that Radiohead vibe comes around. This was an easy start rating for me.
5
Oct 22 2025
Paris 1919
John Cale
English milquetoast. Even the more energetic tracks felt dull and lifeless. Maybe there's something deeper there. And I'll fully admit there might be. I'm just not inclined after this first listen to give it a second.
Solid 2.
2
Oct 23 2025
The Blueprint
JAY Z
Kinda got just bored with his style. I dig some good hip hop. This has some great beats, but much of it felt... meh
3
Oct 24 2025
The Next Day
David Bowie
I'm really glad this wasn't Bowie's last album. He's always been an artist that, to me, is hit or miss. When he hits, it's truly amazing, but when he misses... ugh. This fell into the latter category. Unlike his last album, Blackstar, this one feels like what happens when many older famous musicians release new music; it comes off tired and uninspired. The amount of folks who fawn over them in their personal and professional lives can sometimes make them lose perspective of the quality of their work. Look at what Paul McCartney's released in the past few decades. I think this falls into that trap somewhat. I'm so grateful he was able to get back true to form with Blackstar. Because this just isn't it. And of the Bowie albums that deserve to be on this list, there are far better ones to choose from.
3
Oct 27 2025
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
This is a tough one to rate. I dig it, but not enough to fully give it a 4 star. I can hear this as a predecessor to so many different bands and albums. From Radiohead to Belle and Sebastian to Sonic Youth, I can hear its influence being echoed. I played it a couple times and it stuck with me, but just not enough to land that 4th star. I might come back to it though.
3.75
3
Oct 28 2025
Tea for the Tillerman
Cat Stevens
It's alright. I mean that in a positive light. Glad I got to listen to it. I really see how Cat Stevens got big. I'll give it a 3 to 3.5
3
Oct 29 2025
American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash
It's good. I mean it's the man in black. I love the production of his vocals in particular. They're raw, vulnerable. It's an old man whose warble is apparent. He's not long for this world and he knows it. There are some really fantastic covers here. Unfortunately there are some that just don't do much on it as well.
It's so close to that 4 star rating for me, but doesn't meet that "will I reach for this album again" threshold. 3.8
3