Oct 06 2025
Remain In Light
Talking Heads
Funkier than some of their output. Lyrics and vocals suggest anxiety, frustrations and paranoia. Some tracks somehow manage to be both frantic and overlong. Aside from the banger that is Once in a Lifetime (which was the same as it ever was), I enjoyed Houses in Motion and the more commercial Listening Wind, whereas Crosseyed and Painless was a bit claustrophobic.
2
Oct 07 2025
Superunknown
Soundgarden
Not my cup of tea. Smooth production makes it less interesting. Not so keen on polished noise. Never really listened to them in the past. That’s not going to change. Enjoyed the opening track and , change in tempo, Head Down also decent. Mailman / Limo Wreck just plodding rubbish. Title track also dull. And Black hole sun is overrated imo.
2
Oct 08 2025
Roots
Sepultura
Has its place and lots of fans I’m sure. And it did sound better when you turn it up. More variety than I expected, sounded almost like Wah Wah guitars on Ratamahatta, though I enjoyed the heavier songs more, I.e not Jasco and Itsari. Could’ve done without the last really long song. Felt a sore throat thinking about how he can get through a gig. Dare I say slightly better / more fun than Soundgarden.
3
Oct 09 2025
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
Not to be taken too seriously. Pretty juvenile mostly. Smooth production with jazzy influences and a good flow. Of its time. Not sure why I’ve not listened before if it’s critically acclaimed. Only ‘Passin me by’ was familiar. The album is ok. A cut above Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (and Soundgarden)
3
Oct 14 2025
Sea Change
Beck
From Country tinged Americana Golden Age, moving to more orchestral strings in Paper Tiger. Melancholic. Seems to be a bit of a break up theme. I thought Album was new to me, Odelay- was the album I had. This is different to that. But Lost Cause, It’s All in your Mind and Sunday Sun all seemed familiar - singles maybe? Eels like songs End of the Day and Little One were good. Round the Bend - first one where the sadness began to grate slightly or maybe just a weaker song. Given a 4 as it’s the best I’ve reviewed but 3.5 would be more accurate. Will listen again.
4
Oct 15 2025
Unhalfbricking
Fairport Convention
Strong opening track. Nice guitar. Then an accordion and fiddling happy clappy sing along in French - like something from an early 70’s educational kids tv show. Expect a song called Autopsy on a metal album - this one not metal. A Sailor’s life was initially the type of song I feared they would be about and then went on for over 7 minutes with slightly less annoying guitar noodling. Enjoyed more songs than I disliked. Really like Sandy Denny’s voice. Who knows where the time goes indeed. A strong 3.
3
Oct 16 2025
Heavy Weather
Weather Report
Not my kind of 1977 music. US TV theme tune from some bad show - then some jazzy wank. Another US TV theme toon. Rumba Mama - some vocals! Still bad. Then back to Lift muzak. Awful.
1
Oct 17 2025
Golden Hour
Kacey Musgraves
Acceptable countryish pop music. I found it fairly bland.
2
Oct 20 2025
Harvest
Neil Young
Out on the weekend. Heart of gold. Alabama. Great Melodies. Good Album.
4
Oct 21 2025
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
What’s not to like (maybe the overlong intro on track 4). Over 55 years old- the album not me. Great stuff.
4
Oct 22 2025
New Wave
The Auteurs
Haven’t ever worked out if I like Luke Haines. Keep meaning to read his book. I liked this mostly. Not a great singer but still something about it that means I will likely give it another whirl. Better than a lot of Brit pop fodder. Show Girl is a strong opener and the only one I’d heard or at least remembered. Enjoyed Junk Shop Clothes, Don’t Trust the Stars and How Could I be Wrong. Strong 3. Reminded me to play Lenny Valentino.
3
Oct 23 2025
White Light
Gene Clark
Listened to quickly and not very focused so a bit unfair. Chugging title track a bit dull. Not sure why it’s on the list.
2
Oct 24 2025
Young Americans
David Bowie
Not a favourite Bowie album. He’s not a soul artist. It’s no Low. Maybe repeated listens would help because the stand out tracks for me were the two big ones. Across the Universe (which has less of a soul vibe) is not good. Somebody up there likes me must have been listened to by George Michael.
3
Oct 27 2025
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A.
Good influential album. Awesome first 3 tracks. Fades a bit after that. Didn’t sound dated like I thought it might. Some suspect lyrics in places. Respect the police. 3/4 borderline.
3
Oct 28 2025
Different Class
Pulp
Common People is a proper classic. The Album is littered with great tracks. Great lyrics. Sex and class the main themes. Had to give it a 5.
5
Oct 29 2025
Queen II
Queen
Went into this thinking Queen are shit - change my mind. It didn’t. There is variation here and lots going on. Some glam rock and then Led Zep like (or lite) vocals in The Loser in the End. But, a high degree of bombastic, pompous, OTT everything runs through it and those layered vocals aren’t for me (when it’s Queen). Fables, fairies, crows and ogres don’t do it for me lyrically. The March of the Black Queen - Started to think I like it then checked myself and rightly concluded it was rubbish. Just don’t get them.
1
Oct 30 2025
The World is a Ghetto
War
What is this genre, funk Latin RnB rock? New band / album to me. Album grew on me / got stronger as it progressed. Could see myself getting into that instrumental long track if in the right mood (once the sax heavy bits passed) and the next one (zoom zoom zoom one with the talking bit).
Title track was good but would be improved with less sax. A 3 after initially thinking it would be easily a 2. Where Was You At would be better if it was called Where To Is You By.
3
Oct 31 2025
Lady In Satin
Billie Holiday
Strong opener with background music non intrusive and that voice. By third track music was more sweeping orchestral, plush, film score like. Would prefer more edge to the music but it was 1958. And her voice on this is excellent - fragile and captivating.
Glad she added her surname for this album. Can’t believe she married Laurence Fox and Chris Evans.
3