2025 in 2025: Day 196

フラッグを立てろ - YUKI

Top-tier YUKIちゃん, right here. One of her absolute best songs - and thus, one of the best songs ever - and just the most uplifting vibe. The B-side is more of a bit more chill electro groove.

Highlights: フラッグを立てろ, yes

9/10

マニフェスト - RADWIMPS

I cannot help but feel like these are kind of joke songs? I mean, singing about being Prime Minister and then another song that just sounds like a sea shanty or something. But this is peak RADWIMPS-era, so they make it good.

Highlights: マニフェスト, やどかり

7.5/10

まばたき - YUKI

A slight departure, in that this album is mostly acoustic pop rock. Mostly. There is a still a spot of dance going on, but that is basically dance beats over the acoustic rock. Honestly, the results are VERY enjoyable. 

Highlights: 私は誰だ, レディ・エレクトリック, さよならバイスタンダー, トワイライト

8/10

まるごと・りかい - The Japan Foundation

Me: I think it is mostly singles and EPs from here on, so I should be able to finish in time!

My iTunes Library: Cool story, bro. Here are two hours of Japanese audio lessons to really get you in the mood.

Me: やっばい～

Education/10

ユグドラシル - BUMP OF CHICKEN

Dang this album is a really solid pop rock kind of groove and features one of the absolute coolest songs that would make any day sunny and fun.

Highlights: Sailing Day, ギルド, オンリー ロンリー グローリー (Album Edit), ロストマン

7.5/10

ロゼッタ・ストーン - イケてるハーツ

Another free idol CD. It is very iDOL is SHiT. But still not as bad as some of the other idol music I actually have...

Highlights: Distance Love

6.5/10

人生×僕= - ONE OK ROCK

The only way I can describe this is like big stadium emo rock. And bah gawd Taka's voice is just the best. As I said before, I really need more ONE OK ROCK.

Highlights: Clock Strikes, The Beginning, 69, ONION!

7.5/10

人間なのさ - Hump Back

If Josie and The Pussycats were Japanese, I can not help but think they would sound like this. All the best grrl punk comes from Osaka.

Highlights: クジラ, サンデーモーニング, 恋をしよう, 僕らは今日も車の中

7.5/10

人間開花 - RADWIMPS

And this is where they started to turn - there are songs that are the usual greatness, but there are also some seriously bad songs. Like really bad. And stupid. But the good is really good! I just think losing their drummer really changed something for the worse.

Highlights: 前前前世 [original ver.], 光, O&O

7/10

優しい日本語 - NHK Radio Japan

More basic Japanese audio. This time in the form of short conversations. A couple are so quick, I always struggle to repeat it in time.

Practice/10

光芒 - Hakubi

Hanging out in Tower Records trying to decide what to buy leads to hearing things that make you go 'Oh, ok - I will buy this'. Mostly because I knew my friend would love this EP. And I was right. Female led indie rock is right up her Q-Zone.

Highlights: 光芒, どこにも行けない僕たちは, サーチライト

8/10

君の名は。- RADWIMPS

When this album hits, it hits it hard and almost perfectly. More of the score pieces are fine enough and work wonderfully in the context of the movie - so I guess it is job well done there, too!

Highlights: なんでもないや (Movie Ver.), 夢灯籠, 前前前世  (Movie Ver.), スパークル (Movie Ver.)

7/10

夏を生きる - 緑黄色社会

Quite a good song, this one - very much on form and in the style of music that made them so great at the start, without actually reaching those heights.

8/10

天気の子 - RADWIMPS

Similar to 君の名は。in that there are just a few wonderful songs at the end of a lot of musical score. The guest singer does help, but this could have been just an EP.

Highlights: 愛にできることはまだあるかい, 大丈夫 (Movie Edit), グランドエスケープ (Movie Edit),  祝祭

6.5/10

幸せ - 緑黄色社会

This has everything you could want; dreamy ballad, slightly manic attitude and good fun pop. And all with a funky bass and fun synth lines.

Highlights: ひとりごと, にちようび, 逆転

7.5/10

悲しみよとまれ - BiSH

BiSH is OVER continues, with an absolutely killer drum track - it is like a big power ballad, I guess. The B-side is almost a Rage Against the Machine homage.

8/10

愛してると言ってくれ - BiSH

More BiSH is OVER, this time with some straight forward pop style and then a bit more of a punk-ish kind of thing. Maybe punk-adjacent?

Highlights: 愛してると言ってくれ, GO TO HELL

7.5/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 2008

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2025 in 2025: Day 195

きみとわたしとメロンソーダ - みきなつみ

Young girl indie rocker. Songs are pretty cool, but I admittedly am not the biggest fan of her voice. But the songs really are VERY good!

Highlights: 神様も知らない, Dear, 本気を魅せてやれ, 君へ送る唄, 

8/10

ここにいない君がいる [Single] - パノラマメロウ

More dreamy female indie rock. I would like to hear more from these cats, because this song is a solid vibe.

8/10

ココロノオト - 有安杏果

This was my album of the year for 2017. In hindsight, it was really Cinema Trip - I just did not discover that until right at the end of 2017, because I am a fool. But this still holds up very well. Green's voice is certainly more of an idol thing that suited being in MCZ a bit more, but these songs themselves are mostly just right in my Q-Zone.

Highlights: Drive Drive, 小さな勇気, 心の旋律, ヒカリの声

9/10

ココロノセンリツ ～Feel a heartbeat～ Vol. 1 [Live] - 有安杏果

Not a bad live performance. I know I have this on blu-ray and thought it was a decent watch - her overall performance was quite good.

Highlights: 遠吠え [Live], ペダル [Live], ヒカリの声 [Live], Drive Drive [Live]

7/10

ココロノセンリツ ～feel a heartbeat～ Vol. 1.3 & 1.5 - 有安杏果

This, however, is certainly not as good as the previous performance. It is far too long and vocally it is quite poor. Which is such a shame, because this stands as one the most beautifully presented box sets in my collection.

Highlights: Drive Drive [Live], 小さな勇気 [Live], TRAVEL FANTASISTA [Live]

6/10

ごめんね - BiSH

BiSH is OVER, part something. The title track is pretty decent enough - just kinda middle of the road indie rock style, while the B-side is a bit more punked up.

Highlights: ごめんね, SAKURA

7/10

サヨナラサラバ - BiSH
BiSH is OVER, part HELLS YES THIS IS THE SHiT!!! The title track is absolute murder dance rock X 100. The B-side is more dance rock, less murder, but still 100% awesome.

Highlights: サヨナラサラバ, A long way to go

10/10

サヨナラムーンタウン - シナリオアート

Hot damn, these kids must be the best band that I never listen to. Adding them to the list of bands to explore further after this is all over!

Highlights: ハローグッバイ, サヨナラムーンタウン

9/10

湿った夏の始まり - aiko

Good fun jazzy pop.

Highlights: 格好いいな, だから, ドライブモード, あなたは

7/10

シュプレヒコール [Single] - RADWIMPS

The title track is the very definition of 'a lot going on'; everyone seems to be doing their own thing during the verses in some way and even the drums are layered! But it all comes together massively in the chorus. The B-sides are much more simplistic.

Highlights: シュプレヒコール

8/10

すてきな15才 - YUKI

Kind of like a best of the last five years or something - basically the singles, so I have a couple of them elsewhere in different versions. More YUKI is never a bad thing.

Highlights: フラッグを立てろ, わたしの願い事, 好きってなんだろう…涙, ダーリン待って

8/10

すてんだっぷガールズ! ～第1話 ダメダメ怪獣にご用心～ - PASSPO☆

❤️

Highlights: すてんだっぷガールズ! ～第1話ダメダメ怪獣にご用心～, Party like a Rockstar!

10/10

それだけが、生きる意味なんだ / Spiral Star - 純情のアフィリア

Fun fact: I stayed in like a hostel or something in Tokyo and they had a bunch of free CDs of the local idol groups. This was one of those. And it is actually pretty good - not too far removed from the type of idol nonsense one would find in an episode of Love Live!

Highlights: Spiral Star, それだけが、生きる意味なんだ

7/10

×と○と罪と - RADWIMPS

This is the album I always forget. It is not bad - certainly not by the standards of the later output - but I just never find anything memorable. This listen has somewhat improved it for me.

Highlights: 会心の一撃, アイアンバイブル, いえない, 針と棘

7/10

どんなに君が変わっても僕がどんなふうに変わっても明日が来る君に会うため - BiSH

BiSH is OVER part return to the standard radio rock kind of thing. I dig it; whenever they do music like this, it still works, because they have unique voices. Even when they are not screaming for my death.

Highlights: ハッピーエンドじゃなくても

7.5/10

パレードが続くなら - YUKI

For her 20th Anniversary, YUKI brought back punk YUKI for a fleeting moment and it is glorious! She also continues to pull out the most amazing love songs on the planet. 

Highlights: タイムカプセル, It's 盟友, Naked, My Vision

7.5/10

ぴょ - BiSH

BiSH is OVER, part two. Ha! Tricked you - I actually know this time! Absolute punked up insanity, followed by less insane punk cool.

Highlights: ぴょ, HONESTY

9/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1991

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2025 in 2025: Day 194

After a travel through the 1980s and 1990s, let us check out the 2000s...

2000 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Performing a tribute to Mother Love Bone in Las Vegas just seems like an odd choice. Christmas for me was making some money selling this record!

Highlights: Crown of Thorns [Mother Love Bone; Live in Las Vegas 22-08-00]

6/10

2001 - Dr. Dre

Spoiler: every song where Nate Dogg hits the hook is an absolute bomb of a track. Like, you could have the rudest and most basic verses, but if you roll out Nate Dogg to sing some soulful chorus, LOGMAN is just going feel that. Also, Eminem was so much fun back then.

Highlights: Forgot About Dre (featuring Eminem), What's the Difference (featuring Eminem and Xzibit), The Next Episode (featuring Snoop Dogg), Still D.R.E. (featuring Snoop Dogg)

7/10

2001 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

They almost had something to say this Xmas; Vedder actually sounds like he is putting a bit of effort into his vocals for once, and at least has the decency to get a better singer to sing stuff he can not.

Highlights: Indifference [Live @ Bridge School 21-10-01 w/Ben Harper], Gimme Some Truth [Live @ Groundwork Benefit, Seattle 2-10-01]

6/10

2002 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

This shit is getting so lazy - it is just live recordings every year. And considering they release all their live shows for purchase, a fan club member is doubling up on something they possibly already own. At least they played a fun Xmas song for once?

Highlights: 2002 was a good year, made better by the fact I was no longer receiving the Pearl Jam fan club singles

5/10

2003 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Again, using a different singer increases LOGMAN's interest. Temple of the Dog were always the better band!

Highlights: Reach Down [Live @ Santa Barbara Bowl 28/10/03 w/Chris Cornell]

6/10

2004 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

I feel like Eddie Vedder did not need to give comparable proof he is not as good a singer as Michael Jackson, but here we are.

Highlights: I spent Xmas 2004 watching the full The Lord of the Rings. Extended editions. Because LOGMAN does everything right, duh!

4/10

2005 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

If these 'albums' had appeared earlier in my marathon, I would have quit and thrown my phone in the river for the turtles to use to order pizza. I do not need to hear Eddie Vedder mumble his way through another Elvis song for the rest of my life.

Highlights: Elvis could sing and had a strong voice

3/10

2006 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

These guys sure put in more effort when it involves a band they genuinely like. Bono is just a pretentious twat.

Highlights: Love Reign O'er Me

6/10

2007 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Oh hey - they actually recorded Xmas songs! I am grateful this is the last one I have, but I must question why I had anything past 2001 in the first place - I stopped listening to this band by 2002. Just a sick compulsion to collect. I need to take some serious reflection here...

Highlights: Pearl Jam clearly want their fans to be miserable at Xmas

5/10

2009, Year of Us - SHINee

Well, after all that... that... I get hit with the silliest K-Pop song this side of Waikato River. Which is about as far from Seoul as you could imagine, but the sentiment remains... stupid? At least this song grooves.

8/10

3121 - Prince

The title refers to the number of times Prince mentions anything sexual. After the first 3 songs, I guess he lost count?

Highlights: Get on the Boat, Lolita, 3121, Love

7.5/10

7800° Fahrenheit - Bon Jovi

Standard hair metal mid-80s Bon Jovi. It rocks, but not in the most outstanding way that the next couple of albums would. At least JBJ could sing back then.

Highlights: Tokyo Road, King of the Mountain, The Price of Love, In & Out of Love

6.5/10

アーユーレディー - 緑黄色社会

Am I ready? To leave the English language behind for the rest of the marathon?? This song sums up my disappointment with 緑黄色社会; the verses are great and feel like they are building to something, but then the chorus is... something else.

6/10

アイ アイ シンドローム - Charisma.com

Big head-knocking beats, massive synths, solid rapping and dreamy vocals. These ladies really could do no wrong. Except for disbanding. That was wrong.

Highlights: AUTOMADE, NOW, OLHERO, HATE

8/10

ありふれた人生 - 加藤樹里果

I mentioned this girl before - this is the solo album I was telling you about. It is totally fine - believe me when I say I have heard MUCH worse in the last couple of days alone.

Highlights: Single Room, 感謝して生きよう。,ありふれた人生

6.5/10

アルトコロニーの定理 - RADWIMPS

Oh yes, plenty of RADWIMPS incoming! And this is where business really picks up; just the most awesome musical riffs and fantastic hooks and emotion building kind of stuff. I think this is the first album I am going to listen to once I finish things here...

Highlights: おしゃかしゃま, One Man Live, 37458, 七ノ歌

8.5/10

うれしくって抱きあうよ - YUKI

IMO this is the first album where YUKIちゃん actually sings like she can. It is the usual format, but just with so much... soul?

Highlights: プレゼント, 汽車に乗って, 同じ手, うれしくって抱きあうよ, just life! all right!

8/10

カーマイン - ELLEGARDEN

Oh what was that? A new ELLEGARDEN single? Yeah, I cheated a little to include this; they released it after I started the marathon, but there was no way I could NOT listen to a new ELLEGARDEN song. Even one that does not sound like ELLEGARDEN...

8/10

BAH GAWD this day turned around fast!

'Albums' listened to so far: 1974

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2025 in 2025: Day 193

1984 - Ryan Adams

Look, the guy is a total douchenozzle, but I will be damned if this is not the raddest 15 minutes of raw punk rock.

Highlights: Rats in the Wall, When the Summer Ends, Change Your Mind, Push It Away

9/10

1989 - Ryan Adams

Funny that the last proper Ryan Adams album in this marathon is the album that you can actually trace the end of his career back to! Taking a women's work and making it his seems totally appropriate. I think he nailed the style changes for a few songs, and a few it is just like 'yeah, we get it, you are depressed'.

Highlights: Style, I Wish You Would, All You Had to Do Was Stay, Bad Blood

7/10

1989 - Taylor Swift

Due to the production, this is probably the only Taylor Swift I can enjoy - some of the songs have a bit of a Eurythmics kind of vibe, and I really dig that. Bah gawd, Swifties are the absolute worst and make their cult leader even more insufferable. The songs that feel a bit more genuine are the better songs.

Highlights: I Wish You Would, All You Had to Do Was Stay, Out of the Woods, Welcome to New York

8/10

1991 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

The first Pearl Christmas single. Just one simple song and the band recording a message to their fans. There are many more to come...

Highlights: Quick?

5/10

1991 Remixes - Queen

When their studio albums were initially 'remastered' and re-released back in 1991, there was this fun gimmick of a few songs getting remixed in various ways. Most of it involves just adding a bunch of reverb to the vocals and drums. Some got a bit of a dance remix happen. And then Rick Rubin turned We Will Rock You in to a completely crazy hip-hop style thing. 

Highlights: Tie Your Mother Down (1991 Remix by Matt Wallace), We Will Rock You (Ruined by Rick Rubin), Flash's Theme (1991 Remix by Mista Lawnge)

7/10

1992 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

One of the best songs recorded by Pearl Jam and then a mess of samples? You know what? I deserve this.

Highlights: Sonic Reducer

6/10

1993 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Similar to the 1992 Xmas single, where the A-side is brilliant and the B-side is... not. At least this time it is a live jam where they were being pelted with shoes.

Highlights: Angel

6/10

1994 Solo Recording - Ryan Adams

Acoustic country numbers - sounds like they were recorded during a radio appearance or something? Who the hell wanted DRA on their radio show in 1994?

Highlights: I am still awake - or is that a lowlight?

5.5/10

1995 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

There was no single in 1994 - I must have forgotten that. This one at least features four songs! And they are all live performances of covers - including a performance from the first concert I ever went to. 

Highlights: History Never Repeats [Live in NZ w/Tim & Neil Finn], Sonic Reducer [Live in New Orleans w/Joey Ramone]

6.5/10

1996 Christmas Sing - Pearl Jam

One terrible song about not being good enough for the Olympics, followed by a very average live performance of a song off No Code.

Highlights: 1996 was 30 years ago?

4/10

1997 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam & R.E.M.

Dudes could not even muster the effort to record another rambling nonsense for their fans, so had to get another band to do it for them? Fair call; if I had known that was an option, I would have got someone else to listen to their music for me!

Highlights: I saw Kiss live for the first time in 1997

4/10

1998 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

These recordings of two super bland old pop songs from the 60s were later released to the general public and Last Kiss became a big hit. I wonder if Eddie Vedder had given up pretending he was "very punk rock" by then...

Highlights: So very punk rock

6/10

1999 - Prince

Oh, thank Prime! This is pure 80s Prince R&B pop and funky rock. There is a bit of something for everyone. Especially the sex addicts?

Highlights: Little Red Corvette, 1999, Let's Pretend We're Married, All The Critics Love U in New York

8.5/10

1999 (Super Deluxe Edition) - Prince

Boy, there sure are a lot of 1999-era demos on here. Oh, wait - this is the 1999 box set! For some reason, I thought I was listening to the Purple Rain vault tracks. The really interesting part of these, for me, is that so many of the unused songs just got re-worked until Prince was happy enough to give them a home on an actual album. 

Highlights: How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? [Take 2 - Live in Studio], Moonbeam Levels, Irresistible Bitch, Lady Cab Driver/I Wanna Be Your Lover/Head/Little Red Corvette [Tour Demo]

7/10

1999 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Yawn. What a boring Christmas.

Highlights: 1999 with Prince was more of a party

5/10

1999: Promo Mixes & B-Sides - Prince

Speaking of partying like it is (was?) 1999... lots of edited versions of songs - which is kind of wrong, because these songs are classics, but radio is a bitch like that - and a couple of equally awesome B-sides. 

Highlights: How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore, Irresistible Bitch, Horny Toad, Little Red Corvette [Special Dance Mix]

9/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1956

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2025 in 2025: Day 192

15 Doors - Moumoon

Some very light J-Pop. Simple and fun, plus an epic awesome ballad.

Highlights: Evergreen, Aoi Tsuki To Ambivalence Na Ai, Happy Unbirthday, 15 Doors

7/10

15th Anniversary TOUR ~A BEST LIVE~ - Ayumi Hamasaki

I feel like my marathon has been severely lacking in Ayu this past month or so... This is a genuinely brilliant performance to watch, but the mix on the CD is somewhat lacking? I cannot put my finger on it. Plus they omitted Surreal/Evolution/Surreal, which is just silly. Still darn great and hard to believe this was 13 years ago.

Highlights: Memorial address, M, Who..., teddy bear, Key ~eternal tie ver.~

8/10

18 Til I Die - Bryan Adams

Look, it is mostly very listenable, but on the whole it really lacks that magic BA had on all his albums leading up to this (and on most albums after). Some of it feels like pandering to the alt. rock crowd, while some of it feels like an attempt to show he was still kind of rock and edgy. And it is that stuff that really comes up short. When he is just being Bryan Adams, it works totally fine!

Highlights: It Ain't a Party...If You Can't Come 'Round, Let's Make a Night to Remember, Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?, You're Still Beautiful to Me

7/10

20th Century Boy: The Ultimate Collection - Marc Bolan & T. Rex

I like Marc Bolan so much more than I realise. Or, at least, I like the songs I like way more than I realise. It is all a combination of the most dreamy rock'n roll and just the sexiest stomps. Pure 70s glam rock.

Highlights: Children of the Revolution, 20th Century Boy, Born to Boogie, Bang a Gong (Get It On), Solid Gold Easy Action

7.5/10

23rd Monster - Ayumi Hamasaki

Another anniversary single. I am quite certain that is all Ayu will release for the next 40 years - outside of concert DVDs, of course. This at least rocks hard. Ayu goes heavy very well.

9/10

29 - Ryan Adams

How did this dude get away with blatantly ripping off so many other artists & songs on this album? Was it because this album is mostly boring and no one listened to it? 

Highlights: Elizabeth You Were Born to Play That Part, Voices, Night Birds

6.5/10

48 Hours - Ryan Adams

From an album made of mostly mediocre songs with terrible lyrics, to a collection of fantastic songs with brilliant lyrics - genuinely some of my favourite of his ever. Dude should have just made more albums like this; a little bit country, but with enough soul and a bit of quirk that it just makes it more charming.

Highlights: Angelina, Desire, Karina, Chin Up Cheer Up, Like the Twilight

9/10

52nd Street - Billy Joel

This is very consistent Billy Joel storytelling pop with solid hooks and just a real groove all around.

Highlights: Big Shot, Zazibar, Half a Mile Away, My Life

7.5/10

200 km/h in the Wrong Lane - t. A. T. u.

This is so very 2000s. Very, very 2000s. Sounds more dated than a 90s J-Pop album.

7/10

300 Days at Sea - Heather Nova

This is such a return to form, but everything is actually a lot BIGGER than normal. So in that respect, it is a bit of a change! But the songs are a touch lighter, but more accessible and draw in the listener.

Highlights: Beautiful Ride, Precious Thing, Turn the Compass Round, I'd Rather Be

7.5/10

311 - 311

I am not sure this album could sound anymore lo-fi mid-90s if it was wearing a flannel shirt. But that is part of its charm; it is actually a bit of an eclectic mix of styles, not just the radio rap rock. But there is that, too. 

Highlights: Down, Don't Stay Home, Don't Let Me Down,T&P Combo

7/10

808s & Heartbreak - Kanye West

The stark minimalist production provides a more introspective approach and a somewhat somber atmosphere, at times. Dude should have looked inside himself and said 'Hey, being a nazi is very bad!'. Fucking clown shoes.

Highlights: Welcome to Heartbreak, See You In My Nightmare, Amazing, Paranoid

7/10

1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour - Green Day

The earliest of early Green Day, that sounds so budget that it could almost be considered punk. Genuinely sounds like it was recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder at their school music room. 

Highlights: I Was There, Going To Pasalacqua, Paper Lanterns, I Want to Be Alone

6.5/10

1704 - Gelbison

This album in no way captures the emotion and raw energy with which this band performed these songs live. The soundscapes and expanse is still impressive, but I just know it could have been so much more.

Highlights: Kabana, Revolution, The Modern Station, Au Revoir Fucker

6.5/10

1980 x 1,000 - DJ Reggie

Oh, snap! DJ Reggie is back! And this time he has some very hurt feelings. But some of this might be his best work? The lyrics here are certainly right up there with his work on 48 Hours. Happy Birthday, Rachael Ray, even if it is not your birthday...

Highlights: I Am Alone, Bugs, Mystery Track Attack, Christmas is Wack

5.5/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1940

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2025 in 2025: Day 191

It is Xmas time! And what better way to spend than listening to music endlessly? 

10,000 Volts - Ace Frehely

Well, it is Kissmas! So remembering the Ace man with his final album is probably the most fitting way to start the day. There is a lot of autotune on his vocals and his guitar solos are so awfully sloppy - especially on Back Into My Arms Again. That is the absolute worst attempt at a guitar solo I have ever heard Ace attempt. And I have watched numerous Kiss bootleg concerts where he was clearly bombed and playing like a drunken fool. HOWEVER, most of the songs themselves are really enjoyable and just Ace being awesome.. RIP Spaceman!!!

Highlights: Fightin' For Life, Up in the Sky, 10,000 Volts, Cosmic Heart

8/10

11 - Bryan Adams

BA moving further to the middle of the road with this one; not bad and there are a few songs that lift the intensity a bit, but overall most of it is kind of forgettable. Crazy that this is actually almost 20 years old now, and it is the most recent Bryan Adams album I own!

Highlights: She's Got a Way, The Way of the World, Broken Wings, Tonight We Have the Stars

7/10

11:11 Eleven Eleven - Regina Spektor

Ugh, it is Xmas - why am I wasting time listening to a zionist warbling about nothing? Because as great as a couple of the songs are, the rest is just super hipster folk jazz. She really was a great lyricist, though. But fuck her zionist nonsense and fuck israel, too!

Highlights: Back of a Truck, Braille, Buildings, 2.99 Cent Blues

6/10

12 Bar Blues - Scott Weiland

Ok, so this is what happens when your art rock student does not have blues rock musicians to make music with. You get a lot of weird noise and just bizarre songs. 

Highlights: Lady Your Roof Brings Me Down, Barbarella, Opposite Octave Reaction

6/10

14 Shots to the Dome - LL Cool J

This is some serious gangster stuff from Cool James. The man goes hard and lyrically still has some fire here.

Highlights: Funkadelic Relic, Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings, Soul Survivor, Straight From Queens

7/10

And that is it for my Kissmas? I gots to go open some presents!

'Albums' listened to so far: 1925

Still 100 albums to go and only 6 days? This could be... interesting...

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2025 in 2025: Day 190

1st Diary - Miccie

This is purely the Ayu written Diary. Now she hates him, she should take it back and re-record it. But go back in time and get 2015 Ayu to do the vocals. It is a very typical Ayu-type of ballad.

8/10

2 of Us [BLUE] -14 Re: SINGLES- - Do As Infinity

Classic J-Pop re-recorded acoustically. Honestly, a great way to lift these songs out of the dated production they were originally subjected to. 

Highlights: 1/100, Yesterday & Today, For the future, We are.

7/10

2 of Us [RED] -14 Re: SINGLES- - Do As Infinity

More of the previous. I am not sure which came first and which was the follow up. Or maybe they were released at the same time? Talk to me about your problems.

Highlights: 本日ハ晴天ナリ, 誓い, 冒険者たち, Week!

7/10

2NE1 1st Mini Album - 2NE1

I do not have the whole thing, but I have half of it on the album that is coming up next. And then I also have a couple of songs on both albums. And a bunch missing from this album? Someone get CL to beat with her baseball bat and earn that WWE title.

Highlights: I Don't Care, In The Club

8/10

2NE1 Best Collection -Korea Edition- - 2NE1

Sure, it all sounds a bit dated now, but when these young ladies say they are the best, you better believe they are not talking lies. 

Highlights: I Am The Best, Ugly, Happy, Lonely

8/10

3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul

Late-80s funky hip-hop and a sampling masterpiece. I find the messages confusing, but the groove is so funky.

Highlights: Me Myself and I, Potholes in My Lawn, Ghetto Thang, Buddy

7.5/10

4:13 Dream - The Cure

Where the self-titled album was an attempt at being 'heavy' and aligning with the fashion of the time (namely, bands that were post-punk bands that were heavily influenced by The Cure), this album is bit more of a blend of pop and darkwave. So a bit more of The Cure proper. It comes up short, but there are some standout songs and an epic intro, like usual.

Highlights: Underneath the Stars, The Hungry Ghost, It's Over, The Real Snow White

7.5/10

4:20/20 - DJ Reggie

Someone should have explained to DRA that mastering this stuff to the same level would have been really beneficial. It all still would have been awful garbage, but at least awful garbage that was not changing volume levels track to track - thus giving me more reasons to hate it.

Highlights: No Ticket No Laundry No Cry

4/10

5-Star - Stray Kids

The usual madness with a touch of rock in parts. 

Highlights: DLC, Mixtape: Time Out, S-Class, ITEM

7/10

7 - Enrique Iglesias

This is such straight-forward pop. There really is not anything super outstanding, but it also is all very catchy and harmless. Nope, I forgot about Roamer! That is one of Enrique's very best ballad-type songs. And then there is something that could almost be considered a reworking of an AC/DC song. Honestly, this album is just enjoyable and easy to listen to.

Highlights: Roamer, You Rock Me, Be Yourself, Addicted

7.5/10

7 Minutes in Heaven - Pornography

Super fun super fast punk rock. Out of all the DRA albums and projects I have listened to this year, this album may well hold up the best. Probably because he is hiding on drums so I do not have to listen to his voice - but when you have a song with a chorus "Punch him in the nuts", it is clear he was involved in the songwriting.

Highlights: Last Night at the Opera, Violent Conversion, Punch Him, Fake Snake Real Pony

8/10

7 Seconds: The Best of Youssou N'Dour - Youssou N'Dour

I only have the single Seven Seconds with Neneh Cherry. Decent song. Their voices blend together pretty well.

8/10

8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture - Various Artists

Almost like a sampler of Eminem and the crew on his new label. Considering that includes D12 and Obie Trice, that is not such a bad thing. Then you get Gang Starr, Jay-Z, NaS and Xzibit as well? Yeah, this is a SOLID hip-hop soundtrack.

Highlights: Rap Game - D12, R.A.K.I.M. - Rakim, Rabbit Run - Eminem, Lose Yourself - Eminem

8/10

10 Things I Hate About You (Music From The Motion Picture) - Various Artists

This is purely Letters to Cleo's cover of I Want You to Want Me. Honestly, I can never tell which version I prefer, because this one just rocks out so well.

10/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1920

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2025 in 2025: Day 189

Young Americans - David Bowie

Bowie getting a bit funky and exploring his soul music influences. With some help from John Lennon. And a lot of saxomaphone.

Highlights: Fame, Young Americans, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Win

7/10

Young Man with the Big Beat - Elvis Presley

Oh, you thought we were done with Elvis box sets?!? This is purely his master recordings from 1956. Which is still 40 songs and over 90 minutes of awesomeness.

Highlights: One-Sided Love Affair, Trying to Get to You, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Rip It Up, Paralyzed, Don't Be Cruel

8/10

Young Man with the Big Beat: Live Performances - Elvis Presley

The Las Vegas performance is so fantastic; even as a young man, this dude never took any of this seriously - he keeps calling Heartbreak Hotel "Heartburn Motel", making jokes about the money his record label is making, and insulting all his own songs. The Louisiana Hayride stuff is a mixed bag - the performances are great and full of energy, but they were recorded off a radio in 1956 so the quality is about what you would expect.

Highlights: Long Tall Sally [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956], Money Honey [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956], Blue Suede Shoes [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956]

6/10

Your New Favourite Band - The Hives

Fast punk mayhem. The Hives when they were young were something else!

Highlights: Here We Go Again, The Hives Are Law You Are Crime, Fever

8/10

Yourself or Someone Like You - Matchbox Twenty

This is the most 90s radio rock sounding album since the 90s. Rob Thomas' voice is sooooo American, but he manages to convey a lot of emotion, which really carries the simplicity of the songs. 

Highlights: Long Day, Busted, Real World, Hang

8/10

YUKI "The Present" 2010.6.14,15 Bunkamura Orchard Hall - YUKI

This is somewhat interesting, because in true YUKI form she gives a few of the songs more of a jazz interpretation and also works them in to some little medleys. The whole is just a bit let down because her voice is nowhere near the awesome as it normally can be. And it is a bit long. But the setlist is fantastic!

Highlights: ハミングバード [Live], 恋愛模様 [Live], ティンカーベル [Live], Home Sweet Home [Live]

7/10

YUKI concert tour "SOUNDS OF TWENTY" 2022 9月19日 札幌・カナモトホール - YUKI

I was really hoping this version of 呪い would resemble the PRISMIC tour 2002 version, but I forgot that YUKI is ever-evolving. 

Highlights: 愛に生きて [Live], ヘイ! ユー! [Live], パレードが続くなら [Live]

7/10

YUKI concert tour "trance/forme" 2019 東京国際フォーラム ホールA - YUKI

This tour, for me (forme?), is YUKI at her vocal peak. And the reworking of some of these songs is just phenomenal. But bah gawd even on the fairly faithful performances, her vocals are just so much more than expected. And the end run of this is ALL THE FEELS. No cap: this version of はみだせ ラインダンスから is one of my all-time favourite songs (which is amazing, since the studio version is just kind of a song).

Highlights: はみだせ ラインダンスから [Live], フラッグを立てろ [Live], 鳴いてる怪獣 [Live], JOY [Live], 美しいわ [Live]

8.5/10

YUKI LIVE "little night music" 2023年9月16日 東京・Zepp DiverCity - YUKI

The last of my live YUKI albums and this one sure is a killer! I am glad I still at least have a few YUKI studio albums to come.

Highlights: タイムカプセル [Live], プレゼント [Live], ラスボス [Live], 忘れる唄 [Live]

8/10

Yume No Ukiyo Ni Saitemina [EP] - Momoiro Clover Z & Kiss

Such a perfect combination and it totally works, because MCZ do the whole heavy idol music thing at times and do it well (see my earlier words about their albums I have). 

Highlights: Yume No Ukiyo Ni Saitemina, Samurai Son

8/10

ZUTTO - BiSH

My girls ending the year of BiSH is OVER in a fairly appropriate way - one pop punk song and then a ballad. Not their peak or anything, but would have been a fine enough ending? Except they released another two singles after this. Milking it!

Highlights: ZUTTO, CALL ME AGAiN

8/10

・・・ - SAKANAMON

Japanese indie rock. Kinda quirky in parts, mostly pretty raucous and uptempo. 

Highlights: DAPPI, 反照, 凡庸リアライズ, STOPPER STEPPER

7.5/10

1:59PM - 2PM

Time for some classic K-Pop. It is fairly standard male idol quality stuff.

Highlights: My Heart, Heartbeat, I Was Crazy About You

7/10

Unfinished Music, No. 1: Two Virgins - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Ummmm what? Why is this album placed here? I would log in to my computer to figure out, but that died. Like my brain listening to this.

Highlights: Remember Love

Ummm/10

Unfinished Music, No. 2: Life with the Lions - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I promise you, the intro for Cambridge 1969 will always be entertaining to me; just having Yoko Ono introduce it so calmly, before launching into her trademark wails over a wall of feedback is a masterpiece of trolling. 

Highlights: Song For John

Ermmm/10

Wedding Album - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I would guess that under the "Sorting" field for these albums, it has a hash sign or something. Maybe an exclamation point - like a warning?

Highlights: Listen the Snow is Falling

Mmhmm/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1906

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2025 in 2025: Day 188

YAH! YAH! YAH! HELLO SCANDAL - SCANDAL

Debut EP and indie release? Like, I can kind of hear it - but it just sounds like SCANDAL! Not modern SCANDAL by any stretch, but early idol band SCANDAL for sure. Which is a lot of fun.

Highlights: スペースレンジャー, 恋模様, 恋の果実

7.5/10

Yeezus - Kanye West

Let me break this down, lyrically; Kanye West is a genius and he does not care about anyone else, because you are all beneath him, and all the women want Kayne West's penis and he happily gives it to them and all these women are also hoes that are not worth his time. Musically, some of this stuff is still ground-breaking as hell. But fuck Kanye West.

Highlights: New Slaves, I Am A God, Hold My Liquor, Guilt Trip

7.5/10

YELLOW - SCANDAL

The last album of the girls being girls. Lots of great hooks and just fun times all around.

Highlights: LOVE ME DO, Stamp!, Sisters, 今夜はピザパーティー

7.5/10

Yellow Submarine - The Beatles

Half The Beatles, half George Martin trying to re-establish himself as a "serious" producer. George Harrison legit has the greatest song on the album.

Highlights: It's All Too Much, All You Need is Love, Hey Bulldog, All Together Now

9/10 for the actual songs half

Boredom/10 for the rest

Yellow Submarine Songtrack - The Beatles

This was the first instance of The Beatles getting a remix and remaster. And instead of it just being the old soundtrack, they decided to do something new and compile all the actual songs used in the movie. This is much more of a fun listen.

Highlights: It's All Too Much, All You Need is Love, Hey Bulldog, All Together Now, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

9/10

Yesterday's Hero - John Paul Young

This is only the wonderful Love is in the Air. About the cheesiest love song on the planet and I love it all the more for that reason.

8/10

Yield - Pearl Jam

This was seen as a return to form back in 1998 - a bit more rocking than the previous couple of albums. I don't know, the whole thing is enjoyable in a radio rock kind of way, I guess. Eddie Vedder's voice is pretty annoying, though.

Highlights: Faithful, Low Light, In Hiding, Given to Fly

7/10

Yolo - The Lonely Island

Possibly the best comedy song ever - that beat alone is just far too good. Plus, lyrically, it sums up how I live!

10/10

YOU AND I - Park Bom

Oh random K-Pop brings me an ex-2NE1 member! And it is a very 2NE1 type of song. 

8/10

You Can't See Me - John Cena & Tha Trademarc

Musically this is all pretty harmless and fun in parts. Listening to the lyrics is pretty much a laugh a minute - Cena himself rhymes like the whitest white dude with the corniest nonsense and it is fun. It is also funny hearing him swear so much. WWE money must have at least paid for some above average (not Mike Sanders) producers?
Highlights: The Time is Now, Bad Bad Man

6/10

You Could Have It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand

Much less awesome than their debut album - nothing that really stands out the way half of that album does - but still very enjoyable. I can see they were certainly trying to get a couple of songs to catch the way Take Me Out did, but they just do not catch.

Highlights: Do You Want To, The Fallen, This Boy, You Could Have It So Much Better

7/10

YOU NEVER WALK ALONE - BTS

I could be wrong, but this feels like the turning point where they just went harder into pop - there is barely any hip-hop on here at all. Like, it is not Permission to Dance levels of pop, but still much more accessible. The last half is almost perfect.

Highlights: 봄날, Not Today, Am I Wrong, A Supplementary Story : You Never Walk Alone

7.5/10

You Want It, You Got It - Bryan Adams

Is this technically the first CD LOGMAN bought? Absolute 80s pop rock - very light on the rock. Very typical radio music from 1981 and almost works as a good companion piece to Unmasked by Kiss (just because some of the cheesy stuff sounds very similar, not that BA was involved with that album) or even Peter Criss' solo albums.

Highlights: Lonely Nights, Fits Ya Good, Last Chance, Don't Look Now

7/10

You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best - Kiss

I have written about this before. It is "live" Kiss. It is a guaranteed good time!*

*At least, when Tommy Thayer is not involved

Highlights: Take Me, Let Me Know, Room Service, Two Timer

9/10

You've Come a Long Way, Baby - Fatboy Slim

Classic late 90s UK techno rave dance business. This dude is like The Chemical Brothers with a sense of humour. 

Highlights: The Rockafeller Skank, Right Here Right Now, You're Not From Brighton, Gangster Tripping

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1890

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2025 in 2025: Day 187

Word Up! - Cameo

I only have the title track, which just happens to be a stone cold funky classic. This would appear to be a remix, so one day I will have to get the album version. And the full album.

10/10

The Works - Queen

This is probably their most consistent album from the 80s. Mercury pushed his vocals so much on this album - you can hear him struggling in some parts and it really gives the songs a bit more emotion.

And Brian May's tone is absolute perfection on every song.

Highlights: Machines (Back to Human), Hammer to Fall, Radio Ga Ga, Is This The World We Created... ?

9/10

World Championship Wrestling - World Championship Wrestling

This is just a couple of random themes that should be with the other collections I have, I guess? I am kind of partial to the original intro for Thunder...

6/10

World Clique - Deee-Lite

This is only the single Groove Is In The Heart. Fun fact: on release, LOGMAN thought this song was terrible. 10 year-old LOGMAN did not understand that it is possibly the greatest dance song of the decade.

10/10

World Domination - BAND-MAID

This is just such classic hard rock, with a little bit of old school metal washing over it. It is all such a groove, it is hard to not find it enjoyable. And musically DICE is the greatest rock song on the planet, but the lyrics are so hilarious. But BAH GAWD the music and melody are amazing!

Highlights: DICE, Rock in Me, Spirit!!, Anemone, Daydreaming

7.5/10

WORLD GROOVE - TRF

Early 90s techno dance pop - almost similar to the music on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II & III soundtracks. 

Highlights: WORLD GROOVE 3rd. chapter (main message), 私が望むもの…あなたが欲しいもの (Do what you want)～

6.5/10

A World of Pandemonium - the HIATUS

Crazy how much they toned things down after the first couple of albums - especially that second album. I thought it was connected to the earthquake/tsunami of 2012, but this album pre-dates that and was the start of the change in style. 

Highlights: On Your Way Home, Superblock, Shimmer, Bittersweet/Hatching Mayflies

7.5/10

World Power - Snap!

More early 90s dance hip-hop kind of thing. I never really realised how lewd some of these lyrics are!

Highlights: The Power, Ooops Up, Mary Had a Little Boy

6.5/10

WWF Forceable Entry - Various Artists

I only have the mighty Whatever by Our Lady Peace. It is one of their angriest songs. It was also the entrance theme for a man that went on to murder his family and himself, so... Whatever?

10/10

X is for X. I do not make the rules...

X-TV Series - Various Artists

Bah gawd! I am no expert on anime, but this show is easily one of the best I have ever seen. Death and destruction everywhere. And the music is very fitting; the intro song is super badass dance rock and the score itself is just all round EPIC. And then the outro song is so completely different in terms of style - like a very standard late 90s/early 00s J-Pop song.

Highlights: eX Dream - Myuji, Destiny - Naoki Sato, Secret Sorrow - Kohei Koizumi, A Suite (Dragons of Heaven) - Naoki Sato

7.5/10

X-TV Series II - Various Artists

They just mean the second soundtrack, because there is no Series II of X. Because everyone gets murdered or maimed! I need to watch it again.

Highlights: A Suite (Dragons of Earth) - Naoki Sato, Strength - Kohei Koizumi, eX Dream [TV Edit] - Myuji, Crystal - Kenichi Suzumura

7/10

X&Y - Coldplay

This is where they really became a modern version of U2. I do not like U2.

Highlights: White Shadows, Square One, Fix You

6.5/10

XL - Resorte

Angry Mexican nu-metal! Very much luchador entrance music - which may or may not be how I discovered this album in the first place...

Highlights: Aqui No Es Donde, Hijos De La Bonga, Bastara, Caliente

7/10

Xpectation - Prince

Instrumental jams - somewhat jazzy, mostly funky. There is even a jazz flute solo. And a whole lot of funky guitar.

Highlights: Xpedition, Xogenous, Xpectation, Xosphere

7/10

XX, Vol. 1 (20 Aastat Meteoriitide Sajus) - Smilers

I only have the song Sellel Ööl. Speaking of luchador entrance music... Please welcome the Estonian Thunderfrog! I have not heard this in years - probably since he was brutally murdered by that thing trying to destroy Chikara. That was awful. I am going to revisit Chikara once I finish with WCW in 2001 2026.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1875

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2025 in 2025: Day 186

Wild and Peaceful - Kool & The Gang

This is purely Jungle Boogie. Get down, get down! So much funk in here...

10/10

Wild Cherry - Wild Cherry

Lots of funky guitars going on here. The best part is taking their biggest (and only?) hit and just playing it backwards to create another song. AND THEN just playing it a bit slower to make ANOTHER song.

Highlights: Play That Funky Music, Get It Up, Don't Go Near the Water, I Feel Sanctified

7.5/10

Wild Mood Swings - The Cure

This is their most full on pop album, but not really normal "pop"; more like a weird mish-mash of 80s pop and 90s silliness. Lots of big horns and strings and weird endings. And, honestly, most of it comes off as a bit sterile.

Highlights: Want, Mint Car, Gone!, Numb

7/10

Wild Ones - Flo Rida

Almost every song has the same beat. It is the sort of music I would imagine Enrique and Pitbull listening to in the club while drinking and partying with young ladies. Not too young!

Highlights: Wild Ones, Run, I Cry, Good Feeling

7/10

Wild Planet - The B-52's

This is kind of like very early The Cure if they were making quirky pop music. Fred delivers his vocals the way John Mulaney delivers comedy.

Highlights: Private Idaho, Party Out of Bounds, Devil in My Car, Runnin' Around

7.5/10

Will You Marry Me? (feat. Bizniz) [Single] - Lee Seung Gi

It has been a while since we played 'random K-pop song of the day'. This is very fun, but also very touching, and then features a rapper telling his lady to marry him.

8/10

Willow Lane - Ryan Adams

Another Ryan Adams single from when he was flooding the market with music and growing more insufferable (publicly - obviously he had been that way privately forever). And these songs are easy to ignore.

Highlights: There are only two very average songs

6/10

Wish - The Cure

This is my least favourite album by The Cure, because the album features an ugly logo that only calls them "Cure". It is also one of my favourite albums by The Cure, because the music is a wonderful blend of sprawling dark epics and cheesy pop songs.

Highlights: A Letter to Elise, Doing The Unstuck, Trust, High

8/10

With The Beatles - The Beatles

Hot take: Harrison's songs on here may be the best. Sure, they were just covers, but they rock the most. The rest of the album is fairly standard covers and some decent Lennon/McCartney numbers.

Highlights: Roll Over Beethoven, Don't Bother Me, It Won't Be Long, You Really Got a Hold On Me

7/10

Wither Blister Burn & Peel - Stabbing Westward

Oh my! I had actually forgotten about this album and just how much it stomps! A bit less dark and brooding than Darkest Days, while a bit heavier and industrial and angrier. Christopher Hall's vocals are just massive. 

Highlights: Shame, Don't Believe, So Wrong, Falls Apart

7.5/10

The Wizard of Oz - Meco

I guess it is about time I had Meco improve a classic soundtrack again. This one is still super disco, but also somewhat hilariously silly - mostly because of the Munchkins singing to disco beats.

Highlights: Ding-Dong The Witch is Dead, Over the Rainbow, We're Off to See The Wizard

6.5/10

Wolves - NoisyCell

Massive dance rock good times? All rather epic and massive and a good time - I am not sure if I have actually listened to this album before and I should listen to it more!

Highlights: M.R.W., Wolves, Letter, 虹霓

7.5/10

Wonderwall Music - George Harrison

The first solo Beatle album is an instrumental piece, with various influences like traditional Indian music and honky tonk and old American Western? There are a couple of tracks that do very much sound like George Harrison, as well. Pretty chill.

Highlights: Party Seacombe, Ski-ing, Drilling a Home, Wonderwall to Be Here

6/10

Woodface - Crowded House

Some times I think I expected more from a Finn brothers collaboration, but it gave us a few outstanding songs on here amongst the very mediocre everything else, so I guess it was worth it?

Highlights: Weather With You, Chocolate Cake, Four Seasons in One Day, How Will You Go

7/10

Word Gets Around - Stereophonics

I understand why I have the song Traffic - I used to do this one live and it is a darn great song. But why I do not have the rest of the album is wild mystery to me and I am adding it to the list of albums to sort out after this.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1860

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2025 in 2025: Day 185

What's Going On - Marvin Gaye

The man with the silky-smooth voice preaching about peace and god and drugs. This album could not be more relevant today. The transitions between songs are almost as seamless as Marvin Gaye's voice.

Highlights: What's Going On, Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler), God Is Love, What's Happening Brother

9/10

What's Going On (Deluxe Edition 50th Anniversary) - Marvin Gaye

Mostly live songs from a particular concert, but with the singles and an outtake tacked on the end. Bah gawd this man just sang like a dream,

Highlights: What's Going On (Original Singles Version), God Is Love (Original Singles Version), Head Title AKA Distant Lover

7.5/10

What's Going On: The Detroit Mix - Marvin Gaye

No, I am not sick of this album - I could listen to it all day long! This was like a pre-release mix, so uses alternate vocal tracks and the percussion is a little different in parts. A little more dreamy sounding. And the transitions are even better!

Highlights: What's Going On, Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler), God Is Love, What's Happening Brother

9/10

(What's The Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis

Liam's voice on Roll With It is actually awesome. Noel's guitar tone is generally terrible and the electric guitars for the most part just sound messy. And the album is still the peak of Britpop and completely awesome.

Highlights: Cast No Shadow, Some Might Say, Champagne Supernova, Don't Look Back in Anger

9/10

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys

A whole lot of indie rocks about being young and going to the clubs? And it just rules the schools? Inject this straight into my veins!

Highlights: Fake Tales of San Francisco, From The Ritz to the Rubble, A Certain Romance, Still Take You Home

8/10

Wheatus - Wheatus

This is only Teenage Dirtbag. This is the only good Wheatus song. Because it is the only Wheatus song I know. Man, that chorus had no business being so good.

9/10

When I Was Born for the 7th Time - Cornershop

This is only Brimful of Asha. It is the only Cornershop song I know... and I do not like it all that much. It is about 4 minutes too long. I could have listened to three Arctic Monkeys songs again!

3/10

When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king

What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight

And he'll win the whole thing 'fore he enters the ring

There's no body to batter when your mind is your might

So when you go solo, you hold your own hand

And remember that depth is the greatest of heights

And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land

And if you fall it won't matter, cuz you'll know that you're right - Fiona Apple

Yeah, I am going with the full title today. Fuck you and your problems. And that is kind of the vibe of this album - I love the angst in her voice on the opening track and on a few of the following tracks. And this may well the best lyrical display of the last 30 years. 

Highlights: Paper Bag, On The Bound, Get Gone, Limp

8.5/10

Whenever You Need Somebody - Rick Astley

This is purely Never Gonna Give You Up. One of the most iconic songs of the 80s. The man had a voice that did not match the face.

9/10

Wherever We Want - The Tomboys

More indie rock from Kobe's favourite daughters. Well, my favourite daughters of Kobe? Lots of fun. Lots of bad guitar solos and backing vocals. Just the way it should be.

Highlights: RING ME, フルーツキャンディー, 月ミセ屋, DONUT!

7.5/10

White Blood Cells - The White Stripes

Is this fun indie rock day or something? The difference here is I just find Jack White awfully pretentious about his indie-ness.

Highlights: Fell In Love With a Girl, Hotel Yorba, We're Going to Be Friends

6.5/10

White Pony - Deftones

Nu-metal goes art rock? Deftones are not really nu-metal, but I think they are kind of adjacent? Anyways, this is heavy and groovy and this is my kind of heavy duty stuff.

Highlights: Digital Bath, Korea, Feiticeira, Elite

8/10

Who You Are - Jessie J

This lady is the textbook definition of "over-singing". And while she can technically do it, she does not sound good doing it at all.

Highlights: Price Tag, Who You Are, I Need This

6/10

Whoa, Nelly! - Nelly Furtado

It is like party folk music - socially-conscious acoustic music, layered in fun happy beats and various DJ noises you would find in pop radio back in 2000.

Highlights: Shit on the Radio (Remember the Days), Hey Man!, I'm Like a Bird

6/10

WIDE - INKYMAP

Summer is here to kick your ass! Incredible follow-up to a great album - non-stop awesome punk rock, with a growing impact as the album continues. So like a snowball? I think I am confusing my seasons and metaphors...

Highlights: カクメイノヒ, Serchlight, Teardrop, Goodnight and Goodbye

10/10

Wide Awake in Dreamland - Pat Benatar

I only have All Fired Up and the guitar solo is trash, like I am listening to The Tomboys again. But bah gawd if ever there was a song to get you pumped up, this would be it.

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1845

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2025 n 2025: Day 184

The Way It Feels - Heather Nova

Look, it is fine and all, but all very unmemorable and generic. And I kind of understand. But I am also allowed to be disappointed, because I am fairly certain this was one of her crowdfunded albums that has my name in the credits.

Highlights: This Humanness, Girl on the Mountain, Serengeti

6/10

Wayne's World: Music from the Motion Picture - Various Artists

This is only Dream Weaver by Gary Wright. It is a pretty great song. I really should get the full album at some point so I at least have the full Wayne's World Theme to party on with.

8/10

WCW Slam Jam 1 - Various Artists

The greatest wrestling album ever! Big screaming, big synth, ridiculous lyrics about the wrestlers in question - the best being "He's soooo pretty/It's making me upsetty!". Also, Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat is a family man who loves his wife and son. Seriously, that is all his theme goes on and on about. Just what I want in my wrestling themes.

Highlights: Ravishing Rick Rude (Simply Ravishing), Ron Simmons (Don't Step to Ron), Sting (Man Called Sting!), Steiner Brothers (Steinerized)

8/10

We Are Drugs - Third Eye Blind

I have to admit, I have enjoyed revisiting 3EB. In fact, I had almost forgotten about this EP. It is a bit more of an exploration of whatever was popular in 2016, so there are a couple of really terrible attempts at drum and bass or something? But like most 3EB, it is bookended by absolute brilliance.

Highlights: Cop vs. Phone Girl, Weightless, Company of Strangers, Sherri is a Stoner

7.5/10

We Started Nothing - The Ting Tings

The real punk we learned along the way was the poppiest indie grooves...

Highlights: That's Not My Name, Keep Your Head, Shut Up and Let Me Go, Be The One

8/10

We Too Are One - Eurythmics

There is something about this album I find awfully generic - what is it with that happening a lot lately?!? - yet I find this album quite beautiful lyrically. Annie Lennox always has brilliant lyrics. 

Highlights: The King and Queen of America, You Hurt Me (And I Hate You), How Long?, Angel

7/10

We Will Rock You - Queen + Five

Legitimately the most embarrassing moment in Queen's 50 year career.

MINUS FIVE STARS

Weezer - Weezer

Look, Rivers Cuomo is a gross creepo and Weezer are absolute dogshit. But I will be damned if this is not a super fun album. 

Highlights: Holiday, Buddy Holly, In The Garage, My Name is Jonas

8.5/10

Weird Tales of the Ramones - Ramones

I need to get out one day and jam some acoustic Ramones songs for busking one more time before I get too old and too useless. Or maybe being old and useless will make the experience more awesome? One day I will ditch this set and get all the individual albums, but that will probably also be when I am old and useless. The first two discs are just absolute killer, and the third is... actually pretty cool; I have generally had a less than positive impression of the group once Dee Dee left, but when I actually listen to this I change my mind. Ramones were awesome from beginning to end!

Highlights: Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La), Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love), Sheena is a Punk Rocker, Rockaway Beach, Don't Come Close, Glad to See You Go, Slug [Demo], I Wanna Be Sedated

8/10

Welcome 2 America - Prince

I am not sure why Prince decided to bury this album, yet still go on tour in support of it. Prince did a lot of things I did not understand. It is all pretty soulful, with a dash of dirty funk.

Highlights: 1000 Light Years From Here, Stand Up and B Strong, One Day We Will All B Free, Welcome 2 America

7/10

Whammy! - The B-52's

This may well be the most new wave silliness of all the new wave I own. Quirky lyrics, repetitive guitar licks, spooky keyboard sounds, Fred being Fred. 

Highlights: Trism, Queen of Las Vegas, Whammy Kiss

6/10

What a Waster - The Libertines

Just a quick couple of trashy punk songs.

Highlights: I Get Along

8/10

What About Now - Bon Jovi

Really, from the first attempt at a guitar solo, it becomes glaringly obvious Richie Sambora was not in the studio for this bland nothingness. His tone and style is unmistakable. As is Jon Bon Jovi's everyman schtick - which really grows old on this.

Highlights: Every Road Leads Home to You - Richie Sambora, every other moment where Sambora graced the recording sessions

5.5/10

What The Sea Wants The Sea Will Have - Sarah Blasko

Somewhat ethereal and always interesting. A little bit more going on here than her debut - possibly a little more adventurous, but still very much moody indie folk pop rock kind of thing?

Highlights: Hammer, Always on This Line, [explain], Planet New Year

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1829

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2025 in 2025: Day 183

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z

A still young (maybe?) Hova full of fire and lewdness, but then he still is pretty lewd. This album has such a solid groove and goes pretty hard in parts. Surprisingly one of my favourite Jay-Z albums; not the overall brilliance of The Black Album, but real flashes of his genius.

Highlights: A Week Ago, Ni**a What, Ni**a Who (Originator 99), Can I Get A..., Money Ain't a Thang

8/10

Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter - Jay-Z

The first half is the less than impressive Hova I had expected. Then the second half - while nothing as exceptional as Vol. 2 - is way cooler and has much better grooves. Jay-Z flow and lyrical skills continue to be as awesome as ever throughout.

Highlights: Big Pimpin', Come and Get Me, There's Been a Murder, Hova Song (Outro)

7/10

Voulez-Vous - ABBA

The most disco of pop disco albums. A veritable party mixed with love ballads with a groove. Even tired old grumpy LOGMAN can not listen to this without eventually coming to life - If It Wasn't for the Nights is an absolute gem and Kisses of Fire is a good time forever!

Highlights: If It Wasn't for the Nights, Kisses of Fire, Voulez-Vous, Does Your Mother Know

9/10

Vs. - Pearl Jam

I really dig the way the guitars compliment each other on this album; Mike McCready and Stone Gossard rarely play the same parts and it gives the songs more dynamics. And these songs are full of passion and fire. A real product of the time, but still a gawdam awesome album that holds up well almost 35 years later.

Highlights: Rearviewmirror, Dissident, Go, W.M.A.

9/10

W is for What a Way to spend 2025

Waitin' For The Night - The Runaways

The first album with Joan Jett taking over as frontwoman and stuff is already a bit heavier. Because JJ does not mess around.

Highlights: Wasted, You're Too Possessive, Gotta Get Out Tonight, Don't Go Away

7/10

Waiting for the Sirens' Call - New Order

I was listening to this album with someone and they thought it was Manic Street Preachers... and I think that perfectly sums up this album. The whole thing is pretty standard Britpop and sounds more like a band influenced by New Order.

Highlights: Morning Night and Day, Waiting for the Sirens' Call, Turn, Guilt is a Useless Emotion

7/10

Waking Up The Neighbours - Bryan Adams

Like a less heavy Def Leppard album; the gang vocals and harmonies on this sound exactly like the Hysteria album, but this album has more cheese. I love BA and he absolutely killed it on this, but I think the album is a few songs too long - there are about 4 or 5 songs that sound WAY too similar, so if he eliminated a few of those it would be under an hour and be a lot tighter. Sometimes less is more.

Highlights: Don't Drop That Bomb On Me, Can't Stop This Thing We Started, Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven, Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya?

7.5/10

Walking Off the Buzz - Blessid Union of Souls

I only have one song - Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me). It is a lot of fun. Very typical 1999 pop radio rock kind of thing.

8/10

Walls and Bridges - John Lennon

Lennon doing way too much partying to keep caring about world peace, I guess. Instead, he chooses to get as middle of the road as possible - I get the feeling he was trying to get some hits or at least some radio time. 

Highlights: Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out), Steel and Glass, Whatever Gets You Through the Night, What You Got

7/10

War & Peace - Warren Peace

Well this thing is a mess. Some attempts at proper songs, but also some attempts at being a doucheburger. And, surprisingly, the latter is more successful. I am not sure why every song needed big messy noises to end them...

Highlights: Fire and Ice, Dear Diary

6/10

Warning! - Green Day

As fun as some of these songs are, they just sound like a bunch of earlier Green Day songs, just with acoustic guitar and keyboards and weak-sauce drumming. They really lost any remnants of their "edge" here. 

Highlights: Minority, Macy's Day Parade, Castaway, Church Sunday

7/10

WARP - JUDY AND MARY

The first half of this is EXTREME JAM craziness; a whole lot of noise and avant-garde "music". Then somewhere around the middle, YUKI decided to start practicing for her solo career and there is a massive shift towards pop hooks. Just covered in a layer of noise. I respect that their guitarist just never played sensible chords and treated these songs like a jazz jam session.

Highlights: motto, ガールフレンド, ひとつだけ -ver.WARP-, Brand New Wave Upper Ground

7/10

Waterline - Charlton Hill

I think the production on this album does it a great disservice; it is very much of the times and while that does work on a few songs, the rest get stuck in the mire of sounding very generic. It results in a lot of the songs lacking in emotion and just sounding dated. Which is a shame, because I know that underneath the songs actually have some soul.

Highlights: The Last Thing, Crash Landed, Turn To You, Deep

7/10

Waterloo - ABBA

Benny and Bjorn are working harder on this album - I do not recall them singing so many songs on any other album. It is ABBA. A good time is guaranteed.

Highlights: Waterloo, Honey Honey, Watch Out, Gonna Sing You My Lovesong

8/10

WAVE - YUKI

In some ways, this feels like YUKI's most straight-laced pop rock album. Apart from a couple of electro dance numbers. But overall, it really is a collection of great hooks over some simple chords. And that is a good thing - because it results in a some outstanding songs.

Highlights: 歓びの種, You've got a friend, あおぞら, ふがいないや

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1815

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2025 in 2025: Day 182

The Very Best of Cool Jazz - Various Artists

So jazz really is not my thing. It is fine and dandy, but for me it mostly works as background music. Especially a compilation like this, that focuses on the more relaxed and chilled out numbers.

Highlights: I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - Tony Bennett & Count Basie, She's on the Ball - Ray Charles, Round About Midnight - Wes Montgomery, Take Five - Quincy Jones

6/10

The Very Best of Eddie Cochran - Eddie Cochran

Another brutally tragic story of 50s rock'n roll. Wild to think what kind of music and influence this guy could have had if he made it to the 60s, because some of his wild rockabilly numbers are just all kinds of fun. 

Highlights: C'mon Everybody, Summertime Blues, Somethin' Else, Twenty Flight Rock

7.5/10

The Very Best of Elton John - Elton John

I may well be in the minority, but for as good as Elton John was in the 70s, I find some of his 80s output to actually be somewhat superior. The production is certainly better. I mean, has anyone actually sat down with headphones and paid attention to what is going on in Your Song? Because it is a mess. Meanwhile, songs like Nikita can be used as reference to demo your sound system!

Highlights: I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, I'm Still Standing, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)

7.5/10

The Very Best of Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde

True to form, this is only the hit song You Keep Me Hangin' On. Which truly is the VERY best of Kim Wilde.

9/10

The Very Best of Play Bach - Jacques Loussier

More jazz, you say? At least this is the kind of jazz I can dig; phenomenal jazz renditions of classical pieces. 

Highlights: Siciliano In G Minor, Sleepers Awake

6.5/10

The Very Best of Rod Stewart - Rod Stewart

Hey, now! I already have a full "best of Rod Stewart"! But Forever Young is not included, so I had to get that elsewhere, I guess. Classic 80s drive. I really should just shoehorn this in to that other compilation...

9/10

The Very Best of Rose Royce - Rose Royce

I only have Car Wash. It is a bonafide funky jam!

9/10

VH1 Divas Live - Cher

This is purely Cher performing If I Could Turn Back Time - at what I can only assume was a VH1 Divas Live concert, because that is what the file says. I got this because Cher's performance at her Las Vegas concert rocked my world. This version does not!

5/10

View of the Rain - Urge Overkill

I got this EP free with Exit the Dragon and these are all live songs recorded in Australia. And they rock. Because Urge Overkill were legit. Still are, I guess!

Highlights: The Break (Live), Crack Babies (Live)

7/10

Vindicated - Dashboard Confessional

I know no other Dashboard Confessional songs. I once heard some being played in a music shop in Melbourne some 23 years ago, but that was about it. If they have anything else like this song, let me know. Because it is a gawdam brilliant track.

9/10

The Visitors - ABBA

Their last album for 40 years and some of this would have fit nicely in Chess. Less disco pop and more of a mature pop album - exceptionally done.

Highlights: When All Is Said and Done, Slipping Through My Fingers, The Visitors, Head Over Heels

7.5/10

Vitalogy - Pearl Jam

I feel like with this album they were caught up in their own hype and thought they were The Beatles or something - because this album sounds like a band trying to make their own Let It Be. Which is not a compliment. Probably the last Pearl Jam album to have any sort of teeth and before Eddie Vedder's voice got too annoying. But bah gawd the good songs here are just incredibly good.
Highlights: Nothingman, Corduroy, Immortality, Better Man

7.5/10

Viva Elvis: The Album - Elvis Presley

I only have one song from this and it is the incredible remix/reimagining of Suspicious Minds. I genuinely should check out the rest of this album, because turning this into a big emo arena rock song actually works. Helps to have an awesome vocal from The King to base it around.

10/10

Vivid - Living Colour

This album is like the most socially conscious hair metal album that will ever exist. And I am not using the hair metal term as any sort of insult, because these guys are awesome. Maybe more of a funk metal, really? 

Highlights: Cult of Personality, Open Letter (To a Landlord), Which Way to America?, Glamour Boys

8.5/10

Vivir - Enrique Iglesias

This sure is some corny late 90s Latin pop that sounds more like 80s pop, but it also still very much sounds like Enrique being Enrique. Which means I enjoy it. Absolutely nothing a Luchador would use as their entrance music, though.

Highlights: El Muro, Volveré, Miente, Lluvia Cae

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1800

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2025 in 2025: Day 181

Up Your Alley - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Joan goes full on 80s rock here - and she nails it, of course. It is good hard rocking fun!

Highlights: I Hate Myself For Loving You, Tulane, Just Like in the Movies, Ridin' With James Dean

7.5/10

Urban Hymns - The Verve

For as much as Oasis are THE band that defines Britpop in the 90s, this album may have been the last great album of the era. It is equal parts psycadelic swagger and big epic ballads. Like, some of these songs are just massive. And awesome.

Highlights: The Rolling People, Sonnet, Bitter Sweet Symphony, Weeping Willow

8/10

Ursa Major - Third Eye Blind

This is my reminder to finally get the uncensored version of this album. This is always such a tough album for me; Arion missing on bass is sad and my initial thoughts on Tony as a guitarist and overall fit for the group were not high. And it does happen to feature the absolute worst 3EB song in existence (One In Ten). In fact, the whole middle section is pretty mediocre. The start and the endings? Oh, those are some of the best gawdamn songs on the planet! The vocal layering in Sharp Knife is absolute perfection.

Highlights: Sharp Knife, Bonfire, Don't Believe a Word, Can You Take Me

7.5/10

Use Your Illusion I - Guns N' Roses

Despite the online nonsense I seem to read these days, this album actually serves as a solid follow up to Appetite for Destruction; it is still pretty much the same sort of vibe, just a little bloated, but it is the more "fun hard rock" Use Your Illusion album. Only a couple of big epics on this one, and they are absolutely brilliant.

Highlights: Coma, Don't Cry (Original), November Rain, Bad Obsession

8/10

Use Your Illusion II - Guns N' Roses

Look, I did not want this to be the case... but... I think this may be GnR's strongest album. It is a helluva vibe! Angry bordering on punk rockers and massive sprawling epics with the tastiest guitar solos like Slash is playing a hot fudge sundae. And I am going to give 60% of the credit to Duff. He is my new rock'n roll hero.

Highlights: Estranged, You Could Be Mine, Civil War, Don't Cry (Alternate Lyrics), Locomotive

9/10

V is for 

The Vacation - The Vacation

Another $1 CD find - classic mid-00s raw rock, channeling fun and mindless 70s & 80s hard rock like AC/DC. Why do I have no AC/DC in my library? Does anyone else find that kind of weird?

Highlights: Trash, Make Up Your Mind, No Hard Feelings, W.I.I.F.M.

6.5/10

Vampire Weekend Covers - Ryan Adams

A dude I have issues with, recorded on social media covering songs by a band I do not know. Cool...

Highlights: short

4/10

Vampires (Paxam Singles Series, Vol. 3) - Ryan Adams

This feels like more of an EP than a single. And EP of stupid bullshit bookended by actual songs?

Highlights: Vampires

5/10

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale - Prince

Pretty sure these are basically unfinished songs... but are still pretty funky and a good time, for the most part. Definitely not a real Prince album, however.

Highlights: It's About That Walk, 5+ Women

6/10

Veni Vidi Vicious - The Hives

Even more raw and rebellious than Tyrannosaurus Hives. I do not believe any band personifies punk rock the way The Hives do.

Highlights: Die All Right!, Main Offender, The Hives-Introduce the Metric System In Time, Supply and Demand

7.5/10

Version - Mark Ronson

This is purely the jam with Amy Winehouse, Valerie. Bah gawd this is a jam.

10/10

Version 2.0 - Garbage

Much more of a polished pop album than their debut - a lot less darker, at least musically. A bit more of a focus on dancier beats and hooks. No idea what type of flying train Shirley Manson is riding from Tokyo to Los Angeles...

Highlights: Special, When I Grow Up, Push It, Temptation Waits

7.5/10

The Very Best of - Dolly Parton

I only have Jolene. I should have songs like 9 to 5, but we already know LOGMAN is lame...

8/10

The Very Best of - Hues Corporation

This is the only corporation you should be a part of. And the only song I have is Rock The Boat. Man, this song used to mess me up live. Too many random chords changes in the verses. But I sure did love going "Rock on with your badself!"

9/10

The Very Best of Bonnie Tyler - Bonnie Tyler

And by "Very Best of", I am specifically talking about Holding Out For a Hero and Total Eclipse of the Heart. The former always invokes images of Short Circuit 2. The latter is just an absolutely glorious power ballad of the highest extremes.

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1785

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2025 in 2025: Day 180

Ultraviolence - Lana Del Rey

I recall being utterly disappointed in this album on release, but after revisiting it a few years later, I was actually quite drawn to it. And I think it has aged better than Born to Die, perhaps? There is a slightly different vibe, without being as boring and vapid as Honeymoon, and without making me actually listen to the album by choice on any given day...

Highlights: West Coast, Cruel World, Money Power Glory, Black Beauty

6.5/10

Under Construction - Missy Elliott

All the talking explaining the tracks is such a... choice. Sometimes pretty hilarious, but also breaks up the flow at times. But the bounce! Timbaland brought DA BOUNCE! And Missy's rhymes are all sorts of clever and engaging. 

Highlights: Gossip Folks, Work It, Bring the Pain, Can You Hear Me

7.5/10

Under Pressure - The Used & My Chemical Romance

There was a live version of this that was quite fun... in 2005, when I was mid-20s emo LOGMAN. Now I am mid-40s cool as a cucumber LOGMAN and I can still appreciate it somewhat, while also acknowledging that it is hilariously inferior to the original and should be deleted from existence.

4/10

Under Rug Swept - Alanis Morissette

I do wonder how this album could have ended up if Alanis had continued to collaborate with Glen Ballard; would he have helped to force more hooks? Or would he have upped the energy somewhat? Because this album is more relaxed than even MTV Unplugged and is more focused on what she wants to say than making hit songs.

Highlights: Surrendering, Narcissus, Hands Clean, Precious Illusions

7/10

Under the Iron Sea - Keane

Classic example of a band getting famous making sad music, but the follow-up music is suddenly much happier. So clearly being rich and famous suddenly improved their life. Fair enough! 

Highlights: Is It Any Wonder?, A Bad Dream

6/10

The Understanding - Memphis Bleek

I only have the song Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses), because it features Jay-Z and Missy and when they performed it at Jay-Z's "retirement" shows, I thought it was pretty killer. Still do!

8/10

Undertow - Tool

There are so many cool riffs on this album - I wonder if I can remember how to play them? I might have to test that some day. Nineties Tool is the best Tool.

Highlights: 4 Degrees, Crawl Away, Bottom, Flood

8/10

Undiscovered - James Morrison

This album is surpisingly enjoyable; I was expecting something along the lines of Jamie Cullum, but instead Morrison's voice is very soulful and his lyrics decent. Adult jazz pop, but not so... white?

Highlights: Undiscovered, Better Man, One Last Chance

7/10

Unfinished Business - Jay-Z & R. Kelly

Outtakes from their misjudged collaboration. The funniest part is R. Kelly singing about their "world tour", like he was not expecting it to get cancelled halfway through. There is nothing here that is even close to being as offensive as found on their first album, so this may actually be better!

Highlights: We Got Em Goin', Mo' Money, Don't Let Me Die

5.5/10

The Unforgettables E.P. - MONOEYES

No lie - I was both excited and disappointed when this was released. Dude said he was writing The End of Yesterday like it would be his last album, and then five years later he was like 'Oh, I guess maybe I just meant with my best band - I will still make music with these inferior ones!'. And the whole EP rocks hard, so in my face, I guess...

Highlights: Ladybird, Atmosphere, The Unforgettables, Adrenaline

9/10

Unmasked - Kiss

Kiss turn into a cheesy 80s pop rock band and I love it for them. And then they needed Bryan Adams to come and make them rock harder. Make it make sense.

Highlights: Shandi, Tomorrow, Talk to Me, Two Sides of the Coin

8/10

Up All Night - Razorlight

This is the sound of a hungry, young indie band putting it all out there and capturing a sound and vibe they will never be able to repeat.

Highlights: Don't Go Back to Dalston, To the Sea, Rock'n Roll Lies, Rip It Up

7.5/10

Up the Bracket - The Libertines

Peter Doherty delivers his vocals likes he been up all night on coke and chugging a bottle of whiskey between takes. Electric guitars so raw and sloppy it sounds like he is on the verge of passing out. Acoustic guitar sounds like he is using some half broken piece of junk from a local secondhand store. Super solid drumming that somehow holds them all together. This album really captures that early-00s UK indie punk rock perfectly!

Highlights: Death on the Stairs, I Get Along, Up the Bracket, The Boy Looked at Johnny

8/10

UP to ME - BiSH

Just another average heavy idol single from the BiSH is OVER run. Genuinely nothing to write home about... so I will just keep it in the BLog.

Highlights: YOUTH, UP to ME

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1770

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2025 in 2025: Day 179

Travelling Without Moving - Jamiroquai

This is where they started to crossover between their acid jazz roots and fun with a little bit of pop. But those basslines are still the funkiest thing since I got up and funked the funky.

Highlights: Alright, High Times, Travelling Without Moving, Cosmic Girl

7/10

The Trip 7 - Various Artists

This must have been the final in 'The Trip' series. Surely? I mean, grunge was dead by now and this contains some pretty terrible stuff that could not be considered alternative whatsoever. But there are a few tracks I had on my music video collection back in high school. Only a few. That dude from Ash was a terrible singer.

Highlights: In the Meantime - Spacehog, Deb's Night Out - Shihad, Bluster - Salt, Rude Awakening - Prong

6.5/10

Trip the Light Fantastic - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

This is an album I forget about, but it is fairly solid and features many a disco beat. The slower ballad-type songs are also quite enjoyable.

Highlights: Can't Have It All, What Have We Started?, If You Go, If I Can't Dance

7/10

Tron: Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Daft Punk

One of the best film scores possible. Rather dark and brooding, with a dash of electronica thrown in. It really is the most electronic of musical pieces that are the strongest.

Highlights: Derezzed, Tron Legacy (End Titles), Arena, Nocturne

7/10

TROUBLE - Ayumi Hamasaki

Normally Ayu mini-albums/E.P.s are almost perfect and amazing, but this one is a bit average in parts. Which is not helped by her voice being run ragged from excessive touring and hearing problems. Ends spectacularly, however. I would have loved 2012 Ayu to record these songs instead.

Highlights: The way I am, W, aeternal

8.5/10

Trouble Walkin' - Ace Frehley

This album is so much better than it had any right being. And that is really saying something, coming from a massive Ace Frehley fan like me. I have written at length as to how much I love this album, yet I do not think I could ever convey it well enough. RIP Spaceman!!!

Highlights: Five Card Stud, Fractured III, Do Ya, Hide Your Heart

10/10

True - Spandau Ballet

It is only the title track and I am sitting here wondering how or why I have three copies of this song in different "albums"...

9/10

Turnstiles - Billy Joel

I am not saying this is peak Billy Joel, but it certainly is a solid album and conveys his best aspects. This album needs a genuine remix. Strangely, half of the song titles feature some place in the USA. Maybe it is a concept album about a dude on a road trip and he is recounting what was going on?

Highlights: Prelude/Angry Young Man, Miami 2017 (I've Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway), Say Goodbye to Hollywood, New York State of Mind

7.5/10

Twelve Stops & Home - The Feeling

Just straight up cheesy love songs and all-round fun pop rock. And I love it for that! They are all so masterfully crafted. 

Highlights: Fill My Little World, Love It When You Call, Strange, Never Be Lonely

8/10

Twentieth Century - Cold Chisel

There is somewhat of a punk influence in some of these tracks, but it also features one of their most iconic ballads and some of the best singing Barnesy did while in this group.

Highlights: Saturday Night, Flame Trees, No Sense, Only One

7/10

Twentysomething - Jamie Cullum

Perfect background music while you are waiting in the reception of your real estate agent's office. I might not call them the worst cover songs ever, but he sure was trying his best!

Highlights: the whitest way to listen to Jimi Hendrix

5/10

#TWICE - TWICE

The Japanese EP of early TWICE singles. Because it was super cheap and I had no idea who TWICE was in 2017 - this EP sure changed that. Now I am far too used to hearing these songs in their native Korean, but it is still the funnest 15 minutes of your life.

Highlights: CHEER UP (Japanese Ver.), KNOCK KNOCK (Japanese Ver.), Like OOH-AHH (Japanese Ver.)

8.5/10

Twisted Angel - LeaAnn Rimes

I only have the single Life Goes On. But two versions of it, because I am extra cool like that. I should probably just keep the non-country version, but we all know LOGMAN does not play like that...

Highlights: Life Goes On [Almighty Mix], Life Goes On

8/10

TWISTER - NICO Touches the Walls

They call this an EP, yet it is longer than some albums I have. Oh, I see - there is a bonus disc of the EP in acoustic form. The first half is definitely the better way to go!

Highlights: VIBRIO VULNIFICUS, SHOW, FRITTER, 来世で逢いましょう [Acoustic ver.]

6.5/10

Two Fires - Jimmy Barnes

This album is actually way better than I even remember it to be - a real solid blend of R&B with Barnesy's style of rock. Big hooks all over the show!

Highlights: When Your Love is Gone, Fade to Black, Sister Mercy, Little Darling

8/10

Tyrannosaurus Hives - The Hives

This is punk rock.

Highlights: Antidote, Abra Cadaver, B is for Brutus, Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1756

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