Warm, unexpected and enjoyable. This was something I had never heard about, it was well done, competent, relaxing and even funny. She has a really easy voice that conveys emotion even across language barriers. Her singing on One More Dance played perfectly off the laughter of the male singer, and you could tell she was playing it straight while also having a playful and coying quality that sounded like she was smiling while singing. If there were any weak spots, the songs in English just weren't as good as the songs in whatever the other language is. Great
Highlights: Retreat Song, Click Song, Mbube, One More Dance
Loud and All Out. Although I think I may be fine if I never listen to Tutti Frutti or its intro ever again, I get Little Richard is foundational but he was never as easy to listen to as Fats Domino or Chuck Berry or Elvis. He really goes all out on these songs almost sounding out of breath by the end.
Sophisticated and Smooth. Easy to listen to even with all the unusual time signatures, the songs get stuck in your head and I'd listen to this anytime. I like that the time signatures of some songs are hinted at in the titles of the songs.
Dusky and moody. Bright early country but in a nightlife honky tonk way. I hadn't heard of Ray Price despite liking country a lot and didn't know Willie Nelson was part of his band. Great writing and a sophisticated country feel without being over the top. Also learned about his 4/4 shuffle beat which I did not know he pioneered.
Highlights: Night Life, The Wild Side of Life
Latin and lively. A few Latin jazz albums on here but it’s all good.
Liked the percussion
From Musicboard (OG 1/15/26 [#25] Imported 2/26/26]
Funky and sweaty. I don't think I've ever seen a picture of James Brown where he isn't sweating, and it sounds like he is on this album too. Tight and nonstop, although funk type of music isn't my go to, this was good, he really was working it and it was working for me.
Highlights: Medley
Easy and Smooth. Good music to have on around the house. Liked the intro at the beginning, great voice.
Highlight: September in the Rain
From Musicboard (OG 1/18/26 [#28] 2/26/26)
Percussive and passionate. Fun, but probably not an all the time listen. Had this on late at night, which didn’t fit with winding down for bed, but it could be cool. Definitely a lot of noise, shouting and drumming at times but it felt passionate
Highlight: Rhapsodia Del Maravilloso
From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26 [#21] Imported 2/26/26)
Fun and Catchy. Unlike a lot of early rock music, this seems to grab and hold your attention even if it's small and low stakes compared to what came later. Cool to get to the foundations of rock.
Highlights: Blueberry Hill
From Musicboard (OG 1/12/26, Imported 2/26/26)
Suave and smooth. I liked this music already, and will always give it listen. Fun rhythms, great saxaphone, so smooth and chill.
Highlights: the album
Fun classic jazz swing. Don’t probably know enough to get only the finer distinctions of what might set this apart from others but this will definitely be on my jazz list to listen to around the house.
From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26, [#19] Imported 2/26/26)
Fun and Soulful. Interesting that at this point a lot of people weren’t writing their own songs. Not the later sound he would fill in to, but a good beginning.
Highlights: It Had To Be You, Come Rain or Shine
From Musicboard (OG 1/18/26 [#31] Imported 2/26/26)
Hokey but tight. I like country, history, and old country. I found this a little hokey, which makes sense for the guy from Hee Haw, but ultimately it was good all around, and he had an influence on keeping country less polished than Nashville was at the time. Iw as not feeling the first song, it has a little bit too much over enunciation for me and ends up feeling corny. I think what redeems the album is they were also having fun, like on Hee Haw, it was a bit of joke, and they were in on it. It's an entertainment and performance, and the music is tight and precise.
Highlights: Let the Sad Times Roll, Act Naturally
Direct and raw. This album was nonstop and felt like you were there too, he did crowd work but really didn't mess around and just kept it moving, felt like it went by super quick.
Highlights: It's Alright, Bring it on Home
Straight and sharp. I don't know what I'm supposed to add about Bob Dylan, but the writing is clear and cutting and engaging even with just a guitar and his nasally voice. His timing and delivery are unique, still fun to listen to and shows a range from serious and poetic to goofy.
Don't think twice is probably the song I've played most on guitar
Highlights: Girl from the North Country, A Hard Rain, Don't Think Twice It's Alright,
Jumpy and Straightforward. Good stuff but almost all covers like a lot of early albums from big artists back then. A decent listen but probably won't bring it out over and over. Why am I even writing a review for Elvis.
From Musicboard (OG 1/9/26, Copied 2/26/26)
Cool and groovy. Fun organ jazz, felt like I was watching a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving but I like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving so that's fine with me.
My family used to have 2 organs but now we have 0. Big mistake.
Highlights: Hammond Organ
Fast Paced and Funny. Straddles the line between serious and straightforward folk and goofy non sequitur songs about who even knowns what, songs that are 2 minutes long and others that are 8 minutes long. Keeping the missed cue in the 115th dream was good, it shows the laid back vibe they must have had recording this, sounds fun. I think the humor is important for Dylan, something about the ability to not take even his own music that seriously is the same quality that let him change his sound over and over and write other songs that see through other things the way he sees through himself.
Highlights: Subterranean Homesick Blues, Maggie’s Farm, Mr. Tambourine Man, It’s All Over Now Baby Blue
Fine but middling. Nothing really stood out to me from this album and I don't really remember any of the songs. Probably won't seek this out again. Why is his name also Elvis?
Groovy but Monotonous. Definitely a few really good songs, the title track leading them, but can become ambient noise when listening straight through. Listened to in isolation, each song probably does better than as a group where they all run together a bit. Still enjoyable and has the strength of its better songs to buoy it up.
Highlights: Green Onions, Lonely Avenue
Cool and Competent. It did fade into the background while I was listening to it but I liked it. The trumpet led the whole album.
Highlights: hard to say because I stopped paying close attention to individual tracks but the sound was good
From Musicboard (OG 1/14/26 [#24] Imported 2/26/26)
Cool & Blue. Listened to this at work and kind of made me spacey and stare, which is good as mood music, but not productive. Has a similar even more wee hours vibe than Frank Sinatras Wee Hours album, like the afterparty for that album. Very laid back, low energy if that is the mood.
Steady and Straight. Can be a little kiddie sounding but it’s fun and short. All the songs are like 2 minutes long. Early tight rock music.
Highlights: That’ll Be The Day
From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26, [#18] Imported 2/26/26)
Unrestrained and all the same. Good, clear recording. I get he’s influential and unrestrained and goes crazy on the piano but I’ve never been into Jerry Lee Lewis. He always seems a bit corny. Album is good but probably won’t revisit
Highlights: pounding and rolling on the piano
From Musicboard (OG 1/14/26 [#23] Imported 2/26/26)
Airy and mellow. Great again, jazzy music that you can melt into. Love the fuzzy saxophone, Gilbertos vocals and the english vocals all working together with the rhythm of the classical guitar. I'm not sure we need both this and the other album on here, but I like them so I'll take it.
Highlights: Girl from Ipanema, Corcovado, the very orange album cover
Jumpy and Jungly. Liked his raspy voice, jump style and the unrestrained feel. Interesting contrast to the controlled and careful swing from other jazz or band performers of the era like Sinatra.
I’ve listened to Louis Prima every once in a while but I need to add him to my normal rotation. Made me want to watch The Jungle Book.
From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26, [#16] Imported 2/26/26)
Easy but didn't make a strong impression. I like the atmosphere of this album and Billie Holidays voice though.
From Musicboard (OG 1/17/26 [#27] Imported 2/26/26)
Cool and Cruising. Great and a bridge between old blues and a new era of 60s music. Cool to think of how Muddy Waters was in the same blues world as Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rodgers, and other myths from the misty dark pre war years in the south, but also forged a link to the new artists beginning in the 60s some of whom are still alive now. His music provides that same link to the past as his life does, starting with acoustic Robert Johnson type blues but moving into electrified Newport Festival blues rock. Great music, great history, still feels sharp now, still goes hard. I like that they were grooving so hard on one song that they just ran it back.
Highlights: All the songs
Funky and weird, but I was kind of waiting for it to be over by the end. Annoyed by the blooping sounds pervading the album which I later learned was an electrified jug, which is a cool idea, but unfortunately sounds like spaceship sound affects made by a 4 year old and never stops. Nothing super memorable.
Lush and Soulful. A long album, but all good music, soulful and in his distinct style and delivery. I like the arrangements and full background accompaniment
Chill but meandering. Definitely tight and in sync but didn't really go anywhere, especially with multiple takes of the same song. The most bass solo I have ever heard, which was cool but a lot. Enjoyable as total background music, but hard to focus on.
Highlights: Bass going crazy
Fun, liked the Spanish and the Latin Vibes.
Highlights: feeling like I was in a Spanish movie
From Musicboard (OG 1/15/26 [#26] Imported 2/26/26)
Maudlin and Moody. Definitely has an atmosphere and theme. It’s probably more of a nighttime listen, so I think I did it a disservice by listening to it at 10:00 at work but that’s not Frank’s fault. It didn’t have a lot of varied tone but that’s not what it was trying to do.
From Musicboard
Smooth and Swingin. Can't beat Frank Sinatra for this stuff. Interesting contrast to his album of nightime songs, even with the warm album cover versus the cool blue.
Highlights: Anything Goes, I've Got You Under My Skin
From Musicboard (OG 1/13/26 [#17] Imported 2/26/26)
Punchy and Coy. Fun early Beatles album with a lot of their own writing. Not much to add but this album goes quick and has decent songwriting while also showing their influences. They struggle a bit on the more American or swaggering styles like Roll Over Beethoven or Money, I think their other poppy songs suit them much better at this phase.
Highlights: It Won't Be Long, All I've Got to Do, All My Loving, Til There Was You
Fast and focused. Like a lot of early Beatles, it's quick and down to business putting out little songs, but with a little more bite in this one. Not all the songs are memorable but there are hits on here and a consistent tone.
Highlights: And I Love Her, Can't Buy Me Love, I'll Be Back, Things We Said Today
In the words of the time, this is river deep country fried buttercream soul. I liked it. I had never heard of Solomon Burke, but apparently he coined the term soul music, and this is it. Right between rock and roll and crooning, it's definitely a classic of this time. His Wikipedia page is also great. Apparently he had 21 children, started his own Church denomination, sold overpriced food to other black artists on tour who couldn't go out to eat because of Jim Crow, and performed at a KKK rally. Awesome.
His music was good, theology and diet were questionable at best. Here's his quote concerning the fact that he weighed about 400 pounds:
It's very rough. I love to eat and I love to cook—as you can see. But my hip has to be replaced and a knee has to be replaced and I've got to lose 150 pounds before they can do that. And that's a lot. But it's NOT! God knows I've enjoyed every kind of food there is, all around the world. It's not like I'm going to miss any of it. Because I've had it all!
Highlights: You Can't Love Em All
Fine and folky. Folksy but pretty polished, but nothing really stuck with me. Doesn't feel as raw and straightforward as Dylan or Ramblin Jack, the songs are folk and traditional but the delivery feels polished like a concert or baroque styel. Even though this is the same songs and format that other folk musicians were making at the time I don't enjoy Joan Baez as much. Between a 2 and 3 for me, but I'll bump to a 3.
Expansive and Western. Great. Almost all classics, and a worthy western inclusion on the list. Includes murder ballads, classic cowboy stuff, and even early cosmic country on The Masters Call that I think prefigures other life and death / spiritual themes later on in country.
Highlights: Strawberry Roan, The Masters Call, and all of the other songs.
From Musicboard (OG 1/18/26 [#30] Imported 2/26/26)
Teenage but Fine. Like a lot of early rock n roll type stuff, I enjoy it while listening but its instantly forgettable and doesn't make a strong impression. I would listen if its playing but not necessary seek this out again. One song had the kind of walking beat that reminds me of the early beatles music, which made me wish I was listening to one of those instead. Not bad but not special.
Highlights: ?? I don't remember any of them specifically, lots of songs about about dating
Cover: Generic, matches the album.
Punchy and Ramblin. I hadn't heard of Ramblin' Jack Elliot much until recently, but I like him. He seems to be at the nexus of a lot of the old time, folk, country, Americana, and Western music that I like. I'd rather listen to songs about Boll Weevils than love anytime.
Background listen. Got pulled over while listening to this.
Found it pretty boring. Nothing really stood out from this
Okay. Lots of harmonies and keys, I've never really gotten Time of the Season
Didn't realize Norah Jones was on this list. Solid listen
Enjoyable. Needed break from the Foo Fighters.
Kind of generic feeling, no real memorable songs. Maybe the Oh George one. Didn't notice the album stopped playing when it was over. Would not seek out any Foo Fighters stuff after this
Was not expecting a lofi album from the 90s. Interesting tracks, not an all the time listen but was vibing to this at work
Spacey and cool, enjoyed it but a little indulgent and probably won't give it a ton more listens
Solid, never really tried punk much but this was kind of fun. Last song was like folk punk with the alternating bass and walk ups.
Great album, loved the strings and the swelling, dramatic crescendos. Crown of Love and Wake Up are the highlights for me. I listen to Wake Up during takeoff of every flight I take. (Thanks Walter Mitty)
Lots of rock, lots of recognizable songs even though I've never really purposefully listened to the Doors. "The End" was a bit indulgent I thought but the rest of the album was good.
Interesting, didn't know the Byrds did sort of country. Maybe a little overdone but pretty good. Sorry to the people who hate country for no reason
Like the beatles early albums, lots of early rock and roll drawn straight from 50s rock standards and people like Fats Domino. Solid but probably won't be on my usual listens.
Interesting even if it's not really my thing. Certain songs had a good vibe. I had to skip the song with lots of moaning. Couldn't deal with it.
Jazzy and easy, moody and rhythmic and more timeless I thought it'd be even though it was full on 80s. I've never heard of Sade even though they're apparently really popular. Definitely not what I normally listen to but this was pretty good. Liked the bass part on When Am I Going to Make a Living and the slow start of Why Can't We Live Together.
Raw and reflective, as easy to listen to as it probably was hard to play. Had not heard of Keith Jarrett but will be adding this into my normal listening.
Dense and bombastic. Although I feel a bit handicapped from not knowing the words (sorry France) the feeling of these songs came across well. This seems more like a poet/songwriter where the words are a key part of the experience. Nevertheless, I liked his delivery and effort going in to every song, the way he delivered his verses and the way the music swelled and faded. Very dramatic. Very European. Nice
Highlights: I don't know any of the titles or words except Amsterdam
