Sep 17 2025
Illinois
Sufjan Stevens
I think I would have liked this more if it was a purely instrumental album. There was some really nice instrumentation and some interesting things going on. However, the lyrics were so incredibly twee and pretentious and just really annoyed me. I'm sorry, Sufjan, I know a lot of people like you, but I didn't enjoy this. It was like listening to a Wes Anderson film.
1
Sep 18 2025
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
It started and then it ended. But no, it was pretty generic, middle of the road 70s rock. Nothing offensive, just very much radio music. I would tell Tom Petty to enunciate, but then again some of my favourite singers also don't do that, so you get away with one "Tom".
I wouldn't listen to it again, but I also wouldn't hate if it was on somewhere.
2
Sep 19 2025
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
Very much Indie of its era. I actually enjoyed this more than I did at the time, perhaps because I actually gave it a chance (rather than 17 year old me going "nah this is shit".)
I mean, I still don't love it, but it's decent enough. A little repetetive, but what album isn't. I think a key decider for me in music seems to be the vocals, and I don't really enjoy the Franz Ferdinand singer most of the time. I guess it's that "indie voice" thing. But I did really enjoy the drumming on this album, and the guitars also do interesting and quirky things.
It's not gonna go in the rotation, but it was enjoyable!
3
Sep 21 2025
Songs From The Big Chair
Tears For Fears
It was kinda boring, though I've never been a huge fan of this kinda 80s stuff. I did like the song that sounded like it should be in 'Commando' and the one that sounded like it should be in 'Miami Vice'.
Not sure if putting a song with a 4 minute sax soundscape as the second track on the album was a great idea.
3
Sep 22 2025
Horses
Patti Smith
So I had never heard a Patti Smith song before, and was expecting something more traditionally folky (don't know why).
This album was cool though! Did not think there'd be some reggae in there. Patti Smith has a great voice (it's the first voice that I've really enjoyed so far). Very charismatic and soulful.
Some of the songs were a bit rambling but I did generally enjoy it. More of a 3.5 for me, but it's better than the other 3s, so I'm giving it a 4!
4
Sep 23 2025
The Fat Of The Land
The Prodigy
This one was a pleasant surprise, as I never really liked the Prodigy. I think as a kid I found them a bit scary, cause of the Firestarter video.
A pretty decent album, if a bit repetitive. But that's the point, I guess, as the album decent seem to be made for sitting down and listening. Punky attitude and very much Johnny Rotten inspired from Keith Flint. I was also surprised that there was a more standard rap track!
The drums were very much the highlight! I got lessons at BIMM from the Prodigy's live drummer!
3.5 again but I'll give it a 4, as it was also better than the other 3s.
4
Sep 24 2025
Station To Station
David Bowie
A nice album! Fairly short, but I did like all the songs. Some of my favourite chords sequences being used on the album. Don't really have more to say!
4
Sep 25 2025
Stephen Stills
Stephen Stills
Boring.
1
Sep 26 2025
Good Old Boys
Randy Newman
Nah, this is boring and I'm not gonna finish it. I'm gonna ignore the well-intentioned but awfully presented critique of racism and will instead point out that every song fucking sounds the same.
Ooooh I use dominant 2nds. Grow up.
This is not an album I needed to hear before I die.
1
Sep 27 2025
Thriller
Michael Jackson
Good album!
While I don't love every song, the ones that aren't bangers are still catchy and/or dancey enough to make this almost perfect. But not quite.
I will happily keep listening to the hits, but I won't be in a great hurry to relisten to the album in full.
It's a 4.5!
4
Sep 28 2025
Goodbye And Hello
Tim Buckley
I was pleasantly surprised by this, as I wansn't really sure what to expect. This album is *very* late 60s, but I've always had a soft spot for that era. There's quite the lovely soundscape going on through the album, and while the song themselves are pretty basic in terms of structure and chord progression, the instrumentation and orchestration are really interesting.
You can also very much hear that he was Jeff Bucklet's dad. Very similar voices when they reach the higher registers!
Quite a strange 60s pop album, but I liked it.
4
Sep 29 2025
Graceland
Paul Simon
Wasn't really a fan of that. Just felt like a very sanitised, white 80s interpretation of African music. Super tightly mixed drums with lots of reverb and fretless bass aren't my favourite either.
I did like all the featured artists! Homeless was probably the best song on the album, partially because it didn't have that damned band on it.
2
Sep 30 2025
Raw Power
The Stooges
Why tf you grunt so much.
Seriously though, it was alright. Decent rock music to jam to, and clearly an inspiration for the first wave of Punk rock. It wasn't anything amazing, but I enjoyed it well enough. Would probably be more fun to listen to on big speakers.
3
Oct 01 2025
Live At The Witch Trials
The Fall
Okay, so there was some really interesting stuff there. At times the instrumental parts were really cool and did some quirky stuff.
But my god, some of those songs were annoying as hell. Especially that really long one about Christmas. I can only listen to a man atonally shouting the same word over and over again for so long (don't come at me Verity).
Yeah, I get it, Two Steps Back. Shut up. But nah, it was alright, just not that enjoyable.
2
Oct 02 2025
Double Nickels On The Dime
Minutemen
Man, this was great. You can really hear the influence these guys had on so many other bands, and yet they're such a little known name. I loved all the short quirky songs, the jazzy and funky guitar; the bass, which was clearly a big influence on Flea; the very tight drums, and the vocals, which had a real playfulness to them.
The length my hold this one back, as well as the fact that I can't actually hum a single one of the songs (or really remember one) but I want to be generous with this great little album.
5
Oct 03 2025
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Eurythmics
Wasn't really my think and thought it was a bit boring.
2
Oct 04 2025
The White Album
Beatles
Fucking amazing album. Have loved it since I was 9 and it is in my top 5 Beatles albums.
5
Oct 05 2025
Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young & Crazy Horse
I quite enjoyed this!
I had only heard a few Neil Young songs, but I knew of his reputation. The Godfater of Grunge, and the guy who got dissed in Sweet Home Alabama. Suffice to say, I prefer Neil to Lynyrd Skynyrd.
A couple of the songs on this album were a bit samey, but I enjoyed the rest. There was even a kinda punky song on here, which was a bit of a surprise. I also really liked the guitar work. Neil Young's voice is lovely too!
4
Oct 06 2025
At San Quentin
Johnny Cash
This one was fun! I do always like a live album and while some of the tracks are very similar, I enjoyed it. I always thought it was cool that Johnny Cash played in prisons.
3
Oct 07 2025
With The Beatles
Beatles
A great album with some wonderful early Beatles songs. The first half is definitely and it tails off a bit at the end. Also a fair amount of covers, like many early Beatles albums.
4
Oct 08 2025
Songs In The Key Of Life
Stevie Wonder
This was quite magical and lovely! Some of the songs went on a bit with the outros but otherwise it was a fantastic album. Lots of bangers!
5
Oct 09 2025
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
This was quite fun! Not the usual sort of thing I listen for in hip hop, but I liked it. I was really impressed by the DJ and the production, as well as how early those "skits" you often find in hip hop appeared.
3