Sep 05 2025
Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Bill Callahan
My first review! I enjoyed this album. I liked the talk-singing style of the vocals. Bill's voice reminded me of the band Friendship. The album had a quirky, eccentric quality that made it a fun listen. 7/10.
3
Sep 06 2025
Rock 'N Soul
Solomon Burke
I didn't have strong feelings about this album. I liked all of the songs but none of them stood out to me. Solomon has a nice, soulful voice. Lyrics were pretty generic. 6/10
3
Sep 07 2025
Shaft
Isaac Hayes
This album made me laugh at first because it is a bit cheesy. I got into it though as I listened further and some of the songs really got me groovin'. There were lots of cool instrumental moments, like sweet brass lines and some jazzy flute. 7/10.
3
Sep 08 2025
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
I really liked this one. It is very powerful and has lots of emotional depth. And vocal depth! I appreciate the existential quality of this album - a man coming to terms with the end of his life and trying to make sense of it all. I think the title track is my favorite. You can hear the grief in the vocals, but the choral interludes are reverent. It really captures the duality of life and death. 8.5/10
4
Sep 09 2025
From Elvis In Memphis
Elvis Presley
I mean, it's Elvis. He's obviously a very talented singer and was ahead of his time. I enjoyed the album, but it didn't blow my mind. I think Elvis shone as a live performer so recordings don't convey his charm as much. Still a 7.5/10 for me.
I have a special appreciation for 'In the Ghetto' because of that one scene in New Girl.
3
Sep 10 2025
Technique
New Order
This album was not my fave. It's not bad music, but I think I just don't like whatever genre this is. Every song sounds essentially the same. I kinda just felt like I was being Rick Rolled. Lol. Still objectively fine so 5/10.
2
Sep 11 2025
Debut
Björk
Maybe I'm being influenced by my Icelandic roots, but I actually enjoyed this album. I've always been curious about Björk but have been apprehensive to listen because I thought her music would be too weird for me.
This album is definitely strange, but I liked the strangeness. The last half of the album didn't capture me as much, but I got a kick out of the first five songs. 8/10.
4
Sep 12 2025
Haut de gamme / Koweït, rive gauche
Koffi Olomide
Cool to see the DR of Congo represented! This was a pleasant listen. Some sweet percussion and a nice groove. I got a kick out of the fact that he was often singing in French. 7/10.
3
Sep 13 2025
Urban Hymns
The Verve
This one was cool. I, too, was stoked to hear Bitter Sweet Symphony - it's a great song! I wasn't blown away by this album but did really enjoy the more ballad-like songs (Sonnet, The Drugs Don't Work). I can appreciate the grungy, 90s sound. 6.5/10
3
Sep 14 2025
Blackstar
David Bowie
This album is unique and pretty intense. It acts as David Bowie's swan song because he released it two days before he died of cancer. The songs on this album are darker and even more bizarre than his earlier music, though they still have his signature sound. I'm a fan of David Bowie so I actually really enjoyed this one! I like almost all of the songs. My favorite is probably Dollar Days because I love the saxophone. 8/10.
4
Sep 15 2025
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Dead Kennedys
This is an interesting one. Though the songs are about heavier topics, the music feels less emotional and more clean and technical. Musically interesting with lots of complex and precise rhythms and very quick tempos.
I like the character of the vocals, and the song titles are definitely entertaining. The funniest song title is Stealing People's Mail. I agree with James that I'd have to be in a very specific mood to want to listen to this album - amped and maybe a little angry.
I liked the little waltz interlude in Chemical Warfare. Also the Viva Las Vegas cover was unexpected and funny to me. 7/10.
3
Sep 16 2025
Zombie
Fela Kuti
This album has some really cool percussion, saxophone, and brass. I appreciate the jazz influence on the afrobeat sound.
All of the songs feel pretty chill, but it is actually quite a political album (thanks Kerri for referencing the Wikipedia page about the album - the backstory is wild). Fela Kuti seems to have been an important political activist in Nigeria. He also apparently had 27 wives at one point. Knowing the context, I can definitely see why this album is on the list.
My favorite song was Mistake. 7/10.
3
Sep 17 2025
Maxinquaye
Tricky
This is a cool one. I like pairing of the sultry, ethereal vocals with rap. Very musically interesting and diverse album. All the songs are pretty vibey and chill. 6.5/10.
There are a couple songs that I decidedly didn't really like, but others that I enjoyed. Least favorite: Ponderosa. Favorite: Hell is Around The Corner
3
Sep 18 2025
Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
A classic folk album with some bluesy influence. This is right up my alley. He's clearly a skilled guitar player and singer. There are some really cool guitar melodies on this album, like in Finches, Alice's Wonderland, Casbah, and Angie. The lyrics are a bit less inspired, so I enjoyed the purely instrumental songs a lot more. 7/10.
3
Sep 19 2025
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
I don't have much to say about this one. Most of the songs kinda feel the same to me. Though I can appreciate some of the little details and nuances that make them all a bit different. I can get into In Da Club. And P.I.M.P. lol. Love that steelpan. Not my fave but not my least fave. 6.5/10.
3
Sep 20 2025
Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
It's the Boss, what more can I say? This is a great album. Born to Run was an anthem for me a couple years ago and I still love it. I hadn't listened through the rest of the album before, but it's great. The saxophone is amazing!! 8.5/10
4
Sep 21 2025
Architecture And Morality
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
I was rooting for this album because the album name and art are super cool, but the music is less cool. It's a typical 80s sound. I wasn't enthralled by it, but the songs were kinda soothing actually. Definitely more of an ambient album and a bit experimental too. 6.5/10
3
Sep 22 2025
Step In The Arena
Gang Starr
Pretty cool, lots of variety. I liked it. 7/10.
3
Sep 23 2025
Is This It
The Strokes
I really likes this album!! Apparently I like the Strokes. I knew a couple of these songs already but had never listened to the album before. I like that the music has a grungy quality to it but the melodies and harmonies are pleasing. Idk what I mean by that but they're onto something haha. 9/10.
5
Sep 24 2025
A Little Deeper
Ms. Dynamite
3
Sep 25 2025
Ys
Joanna Newsom
I liked this whimsical little album. Her vocal tone bordered on being too nasal for me, but it does fit the music really well so I can let it slide. I loved the instrumentation and especially the harp - so ethereal. This felt like a fairy tale.
Bonus points because Joanna Newsom is married to Andy Samberg and I love that for them. 8/10.
4
Sep 26 2025
Bongo Rock
Incredible Bongo Band
This was definitely a fun listen and I do like bongos so can't complain. I think it's funny that most of this album is just instrumental bongo covers of other songs. I don't know if I needed to listen to this before I die lol. But I did enjoy it. 7/10.
3
Sep 27 2025
L.A. Woman
The Doors
This is a very bluesy album with a bit of a psychedelic flavour. The Doors are pretty iconic tbh. My favorite songs were Love Her Madly, L.A. Woman and Hyacinth House. Riders on the Storm is a great tune too. There were some really cool musical elements on this album: sweet guitar lines, organ, interesting rhythms, and great vocals and lyrics. 8/10.
4
Sep 28 2025
Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter
A nice, indie album. I was really vibing with He Would Have Laughed today. 7.5/10.
3
Sep 29 2025
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
3
Sep 30 2025
Sea Change
Beck
3
Oct 01 2025
Fetch The Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple
This is one of my all-time faves. This album reminds me of early covid because that's when I first got into it. I remember listening to it on the drive to pick up my hamster in Oakbank (RIP Sid).
I love how weird and creative it is. There are so many unique musical elements. The lyrics are strange and cool and so are the melodies.
The themes of this albums revolve around breaking out of chains and refusing to be silenced, which is very powerful. Favorite tracks are I Want You to Love Me, Shameika, Under the Table and Cosmonauts. 9.5/10.
5
Oct 02 2025
Throwing Muses
Throwing Muses
2
Oct 03 2025
Private Dancer
Tina Turner
All the versions of this album I could find were like 25 songs long, but I could only handle listening to the 10 songs that wikipedia says are from the original album. I dig this album. Very 80s. Tina has a bit of raspiness to her singing voice that I like. My favourite was her cover of Help. 7/10.
3
Oct 04 2025
Aqualung
Jethro Tull
3
Oct 05 2025
Public Image: First Issue
Public Image Ltd.
I did not enjoy this one much. The singing is more like talking/yelling and the music is very noisy and grating. I struggled to even listen through the entire first song but I did persevere until the end of the album. The weirdness of Fodderstompf somehow ended up being the best part of this album for me. 2/10.
1
Oct 06 2025
Songs From A Room
Leonard Cohen
3
Oct 07 2025
Disraeli Gears
Cream
I like this one. I'm a fan of Eric Clapton and I like the mellow, psychedelic vibes. The songs are varied enough to keep it interesting. This album is also nostalgic for me because I grew up listening to Sunshine of Your Love - I apparently bought it on iTunes in 2011. I also had this record at home as a kid and remember listening to it a few times. I like almost all of the songs on the album. 8/10.
4
Oct 08 2025
The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
Incredible! I don't know what style of jazz this is, but I love it. There's some classical in the mix, but also blues, and some other elements I can't put my finger on. Very improvisatory. Also I'm pretty sure I heard "the lick" at some point in the first song on the album lol (iykyk). IMO this is the best album on the list so far. 10/10
5