Sep 15 2025
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
Termination & Are You Happy were the standouts for me. Overall didn’t enjoy this album very much but I’m glad I listened. I can appreciate the historical significance and I had heard some of the title track before but not the full 17 minute version. Wow.
2
Sep 16 2025
Ill Communication
Beastie Boys
Was this level of mic distortion en vogue in 1994? I found the first few tracks difficult to enjoy because of this. Lyrics were impossible to hear. I actually recognized “Sabotage” but didn’t attribute it to Beastie Boys in my mind. “Sabrosa” was a cool instrumental interlude I wasn’t expecting from BB. The strings in “Eugene’s Lament” really surprised me. Other standouts for me were “Root Down”, “Get it Together”, “Do It”, and the real treat at the end (if for nothing more than uniqueness), “Shambala” & “Bodhisattva Vow”. Overall this was significantly more diverse than I was anticipating. Great listening.
3
Sep 17 2025
The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady
Charles Mingus
Chaotic. Occasionally discordant-feeling. Improvisational vibe. Track #2… so it’s really gonna be like this the whole way through, huh? Hard to believe this was only 5 years before In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. What a diverse musical culture this country has. Track 4’s Spanish guitar was unexpected and made me smile haha! I’ve heard track 4 sampled in other songs, I’m sure of it. Around the 5:45/6 min mark. Very experimental album. Overall did not enjoy.
1
Sep 18 2025
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
Favs: “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream”, “Baby, Baby, Baby”
I didn’t necessarily dislike the album but it’s not exactly my genre of music. Glad I listened though and wow is she an amazing singer.
3
Sep 19 2025
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Redding
I think I liked Otis best when he wasn’t pushing so hard in those high energy tunes. “A Change Is Gonna Come” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” were standouts for me.
3
Sep 22 2025
Arrival
ABBA
An album laser-guided toward a teenage girl’s heart. Favs: “Dancing Queen”, “Money Money Money”, “That’s me”
The whole thing in contrast to the previous two albums felt like a commercial effort and not something derived from musical passion.
3
Sep 23 2025
Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
Great opener. Loved the groove on “Cities”. “Life During Wartime” was very entertaining. About halfway through the album now, and I can confidently say I prefer the music to Byrne’s voice. He does some goofy shit with his voice that I realize is probably purposeful, but it just irks me. “Air” was very weird. Whole album feels very avant garde and abstract. Drugs I guess haha.
3
Sep 24 2025
Ambient 1/Music For Airports
Brian Eno
I enjoyed this. Simple, airy, conceptual, ambient. Probably foundational in the electronic music space.
4
Sep 25 2025
Our Aim Is To Satisfy
Red Snapper
Cool grooves. A little samey from time to time.
4
Sep 26 2025
Street Life
The Crusaders
Funky!
4
Sep 29 2025
Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Very much enjoyed this album! rock/funk fusion goodness.
4
Sep 30 2025
Debut
Björk
As with Otis last week, I liked her best when she wasn’t pushing so hard, as on “Like Someone In Love” I don’t know if I’ll articulate this well, but her voice doesn’t match the music. Is she off the beat on purpose maybe? I’m not sure. I liked this album a lot less than I thought I would. It’s cheezy.
EDIT: had to come back and give accolades to “Play Dead” the last track. Probably my favorite!
2
Oct 01 2025
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Raekwon
DNF!
1
Oct 02 2025
Rid Of Me
PJ Harvey
2
Oct 03 2025
Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
The whitest of white people music. “I can’t dance” stands out as a shining example of this. I liked “Brass Buttons”. Also very much enjoyed “Love Hurts”
I like the back half of the album better than the starting half.
3
Oct 06 2025
Diamond Life
Sade
5
Oct 07 2025
Getz/Gilberto
Stan Getz
Fantastic. Added it to some playlists on Spotify. This is the highest honor I can bestow in my limited capacity as a consumer of music 🤣
5
Oct 08 2025
Ys
Joanna Newsom
Really did not enjoy this album. “Sawdust & Diamonds” had cool instrumentation. The squeaky thing she does with her voice occasionally is grating. “Rambling” is just about the kindest thing I can say about it.
1