Sep 15 2025
Live Through This
Hole
Plenty of riot grrrl rock and music breaking stereotypes about femininity before this, but it's hard to deny this album's influence, even while Hole's career was relatively short. I still don't know how Courtney Love overcame misogyny and hatred surrounding Cobain's death, but she made some great music despite (and probably because of) all the trouble.
4
Sep 16 2025
Master Of Puppets
Metallica
Master of Puppets is the best song, no surprise. The opening track "Battery" is pretty fun, if misleading. It's a relatively lean 5:12 with the thicc Master of Puppets following it at 8:35. I think the reason I'm not into more metal is because it's bloated, and I like my songs short. But I appreciate some headbanging materials.
4
Sep 17 2025
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles
I've heard this album many times before. It's not even my favorite Beatles album, but the influence it had and the revolutionary production makes this an automatic 5 stars.
5
Sep 18 2025
Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
Marty Robbins
Big Iron is a banger as well as the epitome of a ballad. Marty Robbins has a lovely voice, and I'm surprised I don't hear more about him since this is the time for crooners.
4
Sep 19 2025
L.A. Woman
The Doors
The result of years of drugs and booze on blues and rock 'n' roll gives us this album, which is kind of brilliant in its appearance of spontaneity. L.A. Woman is perhaps the booziest of the tracks while Riders of the Storm is the most psychedelic. The Doors have been consigned to the hoary halls of "classic rock," so it's hard to see just how strange this album is through those eyes (or so I guess, I wasn't around during this time.)
4
Sep 22 2025
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
It's hard to get into jazz, especially when it got taken over by the mainstream and easy listening or smooth jazz became the norm, especially during the 60s. But Charlie Mingus always sounds cool to me, and I can definitely appreciate his artistry, even if I am a jazz noob. He manages to find new dimensions and pathways into the basic melody that no normal musician would ever think of, and it all works as an artistic whole.
4
Sep 23 2025
This Is Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Great album. Clear that he was an important artists for bridging blues and rock 'n' roll. Also a great musician and not just a vocalist.
4
Sep 24 2025
Mask
Bauhaus
Bunch of spooky bitches. I like it. Great album to kick off Haloween season.
4
Sep 25 2025
Fifth Dimension
The Byrds
8 Miles High is the best song on this album, though I do like that it's abundantly clear how good they are as musicians on every track. Also, the vocal harmonies are pretty killer.
4
Sep 26 2025
A Seat at the Table
Solange
Haven't listened to Solange's previous work, but I'm guessing this is much more personal. Love the half-mutterings about Black identity and the struggles that go with it but the immense pride as well sprinkled throughout. Also, Cranes in the Sky is a great ballad. Easily one of the best of the second half of the 2010s decade.
4
Sep 29 2025
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
4
Sep 30 2025
My Aim Is True
Elvis Costello
Honestly really great. Looks to the older rock tradition with the likes of Buddy Holly (someone he's somewhat aping with his look and the music.)
5
Oct 01 2025
Under Construction
Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott is somewhat underrated as a songwriter. She raps freely about some of the more typical things you might expect: money, clout, and sexuality. But there's also a sharp sense of humor lacing her music, which both undercuts and highlights the bragadoccio in interesting ways.
4
Oct 03 2025
Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Has a lot more substance than I was thinking. Just knew those as those 'relax' guys, but they actually try to talk about serious issues like the Cold War. Also, pretty solid cover of 'Born to Run.'
4
Oct 06 2025
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Album's great, but yeah Led Zeppelin stole EVERYTHING. The blues part is debatabale, but the song credits definitely.
4
Oct 07 2025
The Stranger
Billy Joel
Great album. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant is the best song on a really strong album. Honestly, Billy Joel screams young boomer or old Gen X to me, and I can never really love his music.
4
Oct 08 2025
Trio
Dolly Parton
Three immensely talented ladies arguably at the height of their powers, definitely Dolly. Emmylou Harris was so beautiful then and still hot now, even if she's pushing 80.
4
Oct 09 2025
Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
Megadeth
Peace Sells is a great song. The others are a bit hard to distinguish, a problem with most metal music for me.
4
Oct 10 2025
Marquee Moon
Television
Pretty solid album. I didn't know they had other songs than Marquee Moon that I would like, so this was a pleasant surprise.
4
Oct 13 2025
Raw Power
The Stooges
Must have lacerated the ears of people thinking even Led Zeppelin was too loud and obnoxious. I mean this as a compliment.
4
Oct 14 2025
Imagine
John Lennon
It feels so personal. Almost none of these songs sound like pop, very far from the tightly crafted doses of dopamine the Beatles had been so good at. If I had been around to hear it at its time, I would have been super excited about the rest of his career.
5
Oct 15 2025
Electric Warrior
T. Rex
Funky and poppy while still being very much a rock album. These guys are geniuses.
4
Oct 16 2025
O.G. Original Gangster
Ice T
Never watched CSI or whatever weekly procedural show he is on, so I kind of think of Ice T mostly as a rapper. Great album that's aged remarkably well, even if at the time, he was actually on the older side compared to other rappers coming up around this time.
4
Oct 17 2025
Close To The Edge
Yes
3
Oct 20 2025
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
I mean I know this is a masterpiece, but I will still happily listen to this again.
5
Oct 21 2025
My Generation
The Who
They were still finding their sound, but there are still some great songs on here.
4
Oct 22 2025
Lust For Life
Iggy Pop
Titular song is best but The Passenger is an existential crisis with a catchy hook. Also, did Green Day co-op that hook for 'Holiday'?
4
Oct 23 2025
Music From The Penguin Cafe
Penguin Cafe Orchestra
Avant-garde pop is a strange beast, but I enjoyed this listen, even if it's not exactly my thing.
3