R.I.P. Ace Frehley

I am taking a break from the iTunes library marathon this afternoon, as I just heard the news about Ace Frehley. And I am not sure how I can focus on making fun of the lame music I listen to.

I grew up a bit of a Kiss fan, but it wasn't until High School that my friends and I really got in to them. Then by the time the reunion tour hit town, I became a full-fledged member of the Kiss Army and Ace Frehley was king. As I got more in to playing guitar, learning and jamming along to Kiss songs was paramount to improving my fledging abilities. But also, they were an absolute blast! I even started watching old live footage and mimicking Ace's on stage choreography, then trying it out while jamming on my own at home. Because that is what makes life great.

When we met with a record producer back in 2002, he asked me my thoughts on a whole bunch of stuff and I simply replied "So long as I get to go on stage and act like Ace Frehley, I'm happy". I was never the best guitarist or even tried to be; I just wanted to be able to play like Ace and attempt to be as cool. But nobody was as cool when playing the guitar.

Back in 2015, the day after my 35th birthday, I had the opportunity to go see Ace live in concert - and attend a meet and greet. I took along an old magazine from around 1998 in the hopes he could sign the fold-out poster of Ace with his Les Paul. His reaction was something like "What the hell is this?" and then he showed it to his bodyguard, both enjoying how cool it was, before signing the poster and the cover. Then I gave him a birthday card (it was his birthday 2 days later) and told him how much of an influence he had been on me. I know he heard that stuff all the time, and I'm sure he did not care at all, but it honestly was one of the coolest moments being able to talk to someone that I considered a massive guitar hero. Then he and his band absolutely tore the house down and it was awesome. And loud!

For some reason, I had been thinking that this day would come - and I had been dreading it. I was hoping I might get the opportunity to see him in concert again, maybe attend another meet and greet before he was gone. But sadly, that was not to be.

The original Spaceman has now left us to return to his home planet. This one may have been his temporary home, but he made our world a better place with his music and influence. Here's to you, Ace!

2025 in 2025: Day 141

Patty Duke Syndrome - Patty Duke Syndrome

Early grunge Ryan Adams. And it is genuinely... fine. Kind of surprising I do not listen to this ever, but maybe that is because it is kind of the low quality and it is Ryan Adams. Crazy that Hypnotixed was from all the way back here,.

Highlights: Texas, Anarchy Time, Hypnotixed, History

6/10

Paul Stanley - Paul Stanley

This album rocks hard. It is pretty much Kiss with some extra cheese and some sappy ballads thrown in as well. Paul loves his sappy ballads. And rockin' out.

Highlights: Move On, Tonight You Belong to Me, Goodbye, It's Alright

8/10

Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys

I need to find the clip where the B Boys are making fun of the way some jock dudes at a Beastie Boys concert pronounce it "Paul's Bow-tique". I can see how people love this album, because it is completely over the top and quite adventurous. Like, it sure trips me out when I think that this came out around the same time MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice were tearing up the charts. But that is the thing with this album; there are not a lot of hooks or well-structured songs. The songs that are a bit more complete are seriously awesome, though.

Highlights: Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun, Shadrach, Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies

7/10

PAX AM Days - Fall Out Boy

FOB hook up with the DRA and give us a quick punk EP. Like, the most punk thing Fall Out Boy have ever done. Just quickfire reckless abandon for 8 songs and zero pretentiousness. Good times!

Highlights: Caffeine Cold, We Were Doomed from the Start (The King is Dead), Demigods

7/10

PAX-AM Digital Single: 001 - Ryan Adams

These are so quick, I should just copy what I wrote during the 2014 marathon! These two songs genuinely rock.

Highlights: Lost and Found, Go Ahead and Rain

8/10

PAX-AM Digital Single: 002 - Ryan Adams

Rough acoustic songs. Very forgettable, but not terrible.

6/10

PAX-AM Digital Single: 003 - Ryan Adams

A bit more of the indie rock kind of vibes. Disco Queen reminds me of Wasteland, just without the supreme awesomeness.

Highlights: Disco Queen

7/10

PAX-AM Digital Single: 004 - Ryan Adams

Very rough home demo kind of things. Well, one of them is genuinely a home demo. The other just sounds like it?

6/10

PAX-AM Digital Single: 005 - Ryan Adams

DRA thinking he is some of metal god, though Oblivion does suit a rough punk aesthetic. People Need Sunlight is almost the opposite and I thank him for that.

Highlights: People Need Sunlight

7/10

PAX-AM Digital Single: 006 - Ryan Adams

I feel like I have these songs elsewhere as well. Like either on Orion or as bonus songs on an album. Or even one of the 'internet radio' albums? 

6.5/10

Peace - Eurythmics

Kids today will never know what Eurythmics reuniting meant for the music world. The crazy part was they did in response to the state of the world in 1999. Think about where we are now. Anyways I am a fan of Annie Lennox in every possible way, but I do not think her voice on this album is very good. She sounds like Alicia Keys, the way she just sings under the note. It is frustrating because, while it is clearly a more mature sound, some of these songs are really good and only furthers their legacy. The 80s New Wave edge is completely gone and this is more music with a message and lighter delivery.

Highlights: Power to the Meek, Peace is Just a Word, Anything But Strong, 17 Again

7/10

Peace is the Mission - Major Lazer

Seriously the best name for an eletronic music artist. This is only the song Powerful, which also has Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley on vocals. It is not a bad song. I think I prefer his just full on electro stuff? Except I do not have any of it in my library, so I must not like it that much...

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1272

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2025 in 2025: Day 140

PAiNT it BLACK - BiSH

I have the b-side, SCHOOLYARD, becuase it is seriously awesome and I was on a bit of a mission to complete my BiSH collection... until they one-upped me by releasing their full discography in one big collection. In a pizza box. So, yeah, this is totally redundant now.

8/10

Pandora's Box - Aerosmith

A massive collection of 70s hits, live songs and alternate takes. It is kind of fun to hear the evolution of Steven Tyler's voice - dude sounds like a drunk having a laugh on their earliest recordings - but, otherwise, this is all very redundant. I have all the studio album tracks on their albums. And the live stuff is not that hot. It does have me looking forward to listening to Rocks, though.

Highlights: Sweet Emotion, No More No More, Nobody's Fault, Walk This Way

6.5/10

Panic - Alexei Sayle

Sadly, this is only Didn't You Kill My Brother? Alexei Sayle is very funny AND a full on Marxist as well. Hooray, the fat bastard! (FYI I am not insulting him, it was a song on his sketch show and I am sure zero people would get the reference, hence the disclaimer instead of just writing something else like a normal person).

7/10

Parachutes - Coldplay

Back when Coldplay were kind of a rock band? I would almost argue indie borderline folk rock, perhaps? Not very happy? Anyway you look at it, I have not listened to this album in probably 20 years and I had forgotten that it is actually very good - I have been too distracted by how terrible they have become. Except for that song with BTS. Keeping everything so much simpler would appear to have pushed them a bit more creatively. 

Highlights: Spies, Yellow, Everything's Not Lost, Don't Panic

7/10

Parade - Prince & The Revolution

Bah gawd this album is so bizarre. I can understand why The Revolution bailed on Prince after this; things are fairly minimalist, without having the normal structure and actual music you would expect from a Prince song. That said, there is still some serious funk and great rock to found in here. I would welcome a remix of this album, because I feel like the bass is sorely lacking and that could make a big improvement.

Highlights: Anotherloverholenyohead, Kiss, Sometimes it Snows in April, New Position

7/10

Paradise - Lana Del Rey

LOGMAN: Oh, hey, I have not listened to this in forever. I do not even remember the songs at all. *Cola starts* This song is not bad... *Listens to lyrics* oh... no...

Highlights: Not that

5/10

Paris (Live At Le Zenith 1992 / 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition) - The Cure

This is a very solid performance, and I am going to credit about 80% of that to Boris and his solid drumming - because the tempos is nice and reserved, almost on the beat and not pushing things at all. Also, I can appreciate how different the setlist is to the other live albums I have from The Cure. 

Highlights: Charlotte Sometimes, Play For Today, One Hundred Years, Close to Me

7/10

Party Queen - Ayumi Hamasaki

This album is the absolute nadir of Ayu's career. And I blame Timmy 100% for his terrible songwriting and attempts at rapping. THAT SAID some of the cringe is actually fun? Like, NaNaNa is incredibly tragic, but boy howdy do I love that chorus for that very reason. And then parts of the album - the songs without Timmy - are some of the greatest songs of Ayu's career? Well, top 20 songs, perhaps. So yeah, I do not know what the hell to say. 

Highlights: reminds me, call, how beautiful you are, Letter

6.5/10 (8/10 without Timmy. Maybe even 8.5)

The Passage - Kebee

Our next installment of random K-Pop songs in my library. At least time, I seem to have about half of the album. This is a bit less hip-hop and more R&B compared to some of the other random stuff I have. It is kind of groovy.

Highlights: Where are the Claps?

6/10

Past Masters - The Beatles

I will be honest: this is one of those compilations that I very rarely pay attention to, which is probably very silly. When I do listen to it, like today, I am just a very happy person, because it is mostly very good singles. And then it gets to 1969 and there are a bunch of killer tracks that I absolutely love.

Highlights: Don't Let Me Down, Old Brown Shoe, The Ballad of John and Yoko, Revolution, You Know My Name (Look Up the Number), Day Tripper

8/10

Past To Present 1977-1990 - Toto

I have never really been the biggest fan of Toto. They are seriously brilliant musicians, but maybe there is something too perfect about them?  However, some of their singles are undeniably awesome. 

Highlights: Hold the Line, Rosanna, Africa, Stop Loving You

7/10

Patient!! [BiSH Ver.] - BiSH

I have been waiting for this! The actual end of BiSH and it is exactly the extreme awesome I wanted. I could listen to this again and again and again... Start the day with BiSH, end the day with BiSH.

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1260

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2025 in 2025: Day 139

Orion - Ryan Adams

I do not think he used a fake name for this one, right? And for good reason; it is probably a bit more solid than the ones he did that way. Clearly put more effort in. It is not metal like he claimed, but that suits me fine. More of a 70s prog rock concept album about battles in outer space. Some seriously great riffs all around.

Highlights: Fire and Ice, Imminent Galactic War, By Force, End of Days

6.5/10

The Other Side of the Coin - Ace Frehley

This is a bootleg of Ace Frehley demos from the 80s and 90s. Most are pretty much what you would expect from bootleg demos, but at least it has Back in to My Arms Again, which is from 1984 and he finally recorded a proper studio version 40 years later... and it is awful. The demo is a million times better. We will get to the modern version at the tail end of this marathon... Some of this stuff sounds like Ace was auditioning for Devo.

Highlights: Take Me to the City, Back in to My Arms Again, Into the Night

6/10

Otras Canciones - George Harrison

I really have no idea what this compilation is. Half the titles are just Titulo desconocido and all the songs are in poor quality. Some rare songs, some single versions, some songs repeated. Clearly a messy bootleg, this one!

Highlights: The sheer randomness

6/10

Our Secret Spot - the HIATUS

The tamest album from the Hiatus. It was released right before the ELLEGARDEN reunion tour started, so I get the feeling it was a bit rushed and maybe lacked a bit of effort. Between the Black and Grey was released a year later, so clearly my man had a lot going on. 

Highlights: Servant, Back on the Ground, Firefly / Life in Technicolor, Get Into Action

7/10

Our Version of Events - Emeli Sandé

This is just the song Next to Me. I ended up with this by chance, but that is good because it is a pretty cool song.

8/10

Out of Control - Peter Criss

For some reason, I remembered this being not so great. I even remembered my Kissathon II review as saying it was bad. I listened today, and I thought it was pretty good. Then I read my Kissathon II review, and I scored it about what I would now. Except I would be much less harsh on the production? So I would be less funny? Sounds about right.

Highlights: There's Nothing Better, My Life

6/10

Out of Here - Corduroy

An album that genuinely changed my life - it really altered how I approach funk guitar and my own playing in general. This and Jamiroquai's A Funk Odyssey were insanely influential at the time. As much as I dig their funk-jazz instrumentals and fake movie scores, adding vocals just took these guys to the next level for me. Adding beautiful melody lines and harmonies? Killer stuff. Not literally, or the 3,000 of us that bought this album would be long dead...

Highlights: Don't Wait For Monday, Practice What You Preach, Out of Here, The Diceman, Motorhead

9/10

Out of the Light - Brian May

The bonus disc for the Back to the Light reissue. Some instrumentals, some live songs, all good times. Hearing him and Slash go back to back like that kind of makes Slash sound bad. 

Highlights: Too Much Love Will Kill You [Guitar Version], 39/Let Your Heart Rule Your Head [Live], Too Much Love Will Kill You [Live], Driven By You [Cozy and Neil Version '93]

7/10

Out of the Vein - Third Eye Blind

This album rocks to hard... for the first half. It is just big powerful banger after big powerful banger, hook after hook, fist in the air and screaming along! Then the second half is all totally chilled out and kind of repetitive and less inspired? Except for Company. That song still goes kind of hard.

Highlights: Blinded, Forget Myself, My Hit and Run, Faster

8/10

Outside - David Bowie

Yes, I know the album title is actually 1.Outside. I will fix it later. But that is the least of this album's concerns. The whole thing is a mash of weird industrial and prog and electro crazy and should be listened to in the dark.

Highlights: We Prick You, Outside, Hallo Spaceboy, Strangers When We Meet

5/10

Outtakes and Demos - Queen

Another self-compiled collection of tracks from the Queen reissues. Quite interesting for the most part. I would like a proper version of Feelings Feelings if they have it somewhere. 

Highlights: Feeling Feelings [Take 10], Sail Away Sweet Sister  [Take 1 with Guide Vocal], Football Fight [Early Version - No Synths!], The Hero [Revisited Version]

6.5/10

The Overture & The Underscore - Sarah Blasko

About as lo-fi as a chill indie record could ask for. And without being all that negative or depressing. However, it is the darker songs that really shine on this album. Blasko often sings with a very breathey style, but I really dig when gets a bit more forceful. And her lyrics are genuinely topshelf.

Highlights: Beautiful Secrets, Don't U Eva, Sweetest November, Remorse

7/10

Oyster - Heather Nova

Talk about influential albums! So much emotion and passion wrapped up in acoustic songs, layered with beautiful harmonies, solid rhthym and very moody guitars. Honestly, when I was 20, this was the album I wanted to make.

Highlights: Walk This World, Walking Higher, Maybe An Angel, Doubled Up, Island

8.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1248

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2025 in 2025: Day 138

One of the Boys - Katy Perry

Before she became so incredibly insufferable, Katy Perry was making bubblegum pop-rock with Alanis Morissette's main collaborator. And boy does it show! This stuff is way more guitar-based than anything she has done since and sounds like Alanis doing a pop album or something. Luckily, most of the songs are actually VERY good, even if the lyrics are a bit immature. 

Highlights: Waking Up in Vegas, Thinking of You, I Kissed a Girl, Hot N Cold

7/10

One Sweet Day - Rumble Fish

Random K-Pop ballad. And not a boy band? This one is called You Really Are. It is good.

7.5/10

One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back - The Darkness

I generally like this album as a follow up to Permission to Land. It still rocks really hard, but is a little less 'old school' in its approach. But they changed bassist for this one, and their original guy (who has since returned) is awesome, so that loses points. 

Highlights: One Way Ticket, Is I Just Me?, Hazel Eyes, Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

8/10

One World - PASSPO☆

This album rocks. I wrote lots about it before, so I will instead use my brain power to do other things... like listen to this without writing. 

Highlights: Next Flight, WING, 2DAYS, Tap My Toe

8/10

The Open Door - Evanescence

I was going to be all 'how did I end up with this album?', but then Call Me When You're Sober hit and I was like 'oh yeah, this song is really good'. The rest? Not my bag at all.

Highlights: Call Me When You're Sober

6/10

Open Up And Say... Ahh! - Poison

Peak hair metal! There really is nothng metal about this music, but boy we sure thought it was heavy metal when I was a kid. Who cares? It is as fun as a banana split. Especially this album; it is mostly super cheesy and upbeat and a total party.

Highlights: Nothing But a Good Time, Fallen Angel, Your Mama Don't Dance, Back to the Rocking Horse

7.5/10

Opiate - Tool

This is the most normal alt. rock recordings Tool ever did. And, susequently, is probably the only work of theirs that I still think is fun. Fun like a Limp Bizkit album. I like fun.

Highlights: Hush, Jerk-Off (Live), Opiate, Cold and Ugly (Live)

7.5/10

Oracular Spectacular - MGMT

This is just Electric Feel. I do not know anything else by these guys. I do not even know how I ended up with this song in my library.

7/10

Orange Sunshine - JUDY AND MARY

A little less raw crazy punk, a little more polished crazy punk. All very fun, if not all that memorable, but probably the sort of thing that grows on you with more listens.

Highlights: Radio, Cheese Pizza

7/10

Orbital Period - BUMP OF CHICKEN

This album is kind of a bit more epic than their other works - a lot more big ballady-type things. A couple of songs that almost had me thinking I was listening to RADWIMPS. Overall, I actually really dig it.

Highlights: メーデー, supernova, 花の名, Believe

7/10

Orgazmo: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

This is only Now You're a Man by DVDA - the band of Matt Stone and Trey Parker. They should just put out an album of DVDA songs. Also, please note that Orgazmo is their best movie, outside of Baseketball.

8/10

Origins Vol. 1 - Ace Frehley

Ace and a whole bunch of his friends cover a lot of classic 60s and 70s rock. Including Kiss. Seems unnecassary, but it is Ace so I will take it gladly. Even if all of this is not that exciting. Mike McCready's guitar solo on Cold Gin sounds like he recorded it on his phone and emailed it to Ace in 128kps Mp3 form.

Highlights: White Room, Spanish Castle Magic, Rock and Roll Hell

6.5/10

Origins Vol. 2 - Ace Frehley

Ace is back with more special guests and cover songs from the 60s and 70s, but with less Kiss? Mostly the same guests and same artists being covered. I think he has mentioned he wants to do another Origins album. I hope he does not.

Highlights: Never in My Life, I'm Down, Jumpin' Jack Flash

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1235

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2025 in 2025: Day 137

On the Hour: Series 00 - Christopher Morris

BBC comedy series. This is purely the pilot, which is very funny, but is mostly repeated in the first series.

7/10

On the Hour: Series 01 - Christopher Morris

More news shenanigans. Very British and very 1991, so some of it is either very dated or just goes a bit over my head, to be honest. But always worth having some Alan Partridge talking about sports. I had no idea his wife died! But, hey, "at least you get some time to yourself".

Highlights: Segment on backwards messages in songs, Alan Partridge being Alan Partridge, the environmental tips

7/10

On the Hour: Series 02 - Christopher Morris

And even more in-depth news reporting! I should watch this show again. Crazy that yesterday I listened to 7 hours of Buddy Holly and it was all considered one album, yet this show is split by season. Meh, it makes sense to me!

Highlights: Alan Partridge reviews the Olympic opening ceremony, truck drivers being blamed for the extinction of elephants 

7/10

A ONE - Ayumi Hamasaki

Things kick off with a big rock song - Ayu rock never disappoints - and then we get some big power ballads, ballads, rock, and some full on dance. Ayu's diversity never disappoints. This is genuinely one of my favourite albums; Ayu's voice is at its absolutely peak and there is so much emotion in everything she delivers. And musically this album just captures everything I love about Ayu and more. 2014-2016 Ayu was something else!

Highlights: Out of control, WARNING, Story, Anything for You, Last minute

9/10

One for All - Peter Criss

I am coming in to this trying to keep an open mind, but I do still recall my original review. How can I not?!? And my immediate reaction again is that Peter's voice on this is downright terrible. But you know what? It is not actually quite as bad as I remember. Maybe it was just coming with the low expectations? But yeah, retiring was Peter's best idea in a while.

Highlights: Doesn't Get Better Than This, Last Night, Falling Over Again, Whisper

5/10

One is not a Lonely Word - Drunken Tiger

A couple more random Drunken Tiger songs, because that is how I roll. One of these days I am going to get a full Drunken Tiger album. At least one!

Highlights: Emergency Situation, Memories of Death

8/10

One Live Kiss - Paul Stanley

Paul Stanley playing Kiss songs and his own songs from his two solo albums. His voice is old and the band are a bit much, but it is fun to hear these old 70s solo songs being performed live. Kind of makes me want to make my own recording of Goodbye at some point...

Highlights: Move On, Goodbye, Tonight You Belong to Me, Lick It Up

7/10

One Night With You: The Best of Love, Vol. 2 - Luthor Vandross

This is purely the song The Best Things in Life are Free, with Janet Jackson. The song is with Janet Jackson - the title is not that The Best Things in Life are Free With Janet Jackson. Though, truly, that might just make something free even more amazing. For some reason this is the version without the Mo' Money rap. My collection confuses me sometimes.

9/10

One Nite Alone... (Solo Piano and Voice by Prince) - Prince

This is definitely the most soulful release you will find from Prince. Complete with a history lesson! The minimalist production really makes for something a bit more special and intimate sounding. However, the label on this album is bit misleading; there are scatterings of drums and bass on probably half of the songs. But that is because Prince knew what a song needed.

Highlights: Avalanche, Pearls B4 the Swine, U're Gonna C Me, Young and Beautiful

7/10

One Nite Alone... Live! [Disc 1] - Prince

Not your usual Prince concert; mostly deep cuts and newer tracks - certainly no hits or anything to be found on this disc, at least - and some big epic funky jams. Well, that part is typical of a Prince concert, for sure!

Highlights: Strange Relationship, Muse 2 the Pharaoh, 1+1+1 is 3, When U Were Mine

7/10

One Nite Alone... Live! [Disc 2] - Prince

Less big long funky jams and more hits and whatnot. Although Prince does the best troll-job on an audience by reducing the biggest hits of the night to simply snippets in a medley. 

Highlights: Take Me With U, Everlasting Now, How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?, Family Name

7.5/10

One Nite Alone... The Aftershow: It Ain't Over! (Up Late with Prince & The NPG) (Live) - Prince

Now, this is one funky party! The aftershow gigs were pretty legendary for just being wild funk jams, and this features all sorts of funk legends popping in to get down with Prince. 

Highlights: Joy in Repetition, Peach (Xtended Jam), 2 Nigs United 4 West Compton, Everlasting Now (Vamp)

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1222

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2025 in 2025: Day 136

O(+> - Prince and the New Power Generation

This is probably one of my favourite Prince albums; it is not perfect, but he just went so hard with the new jack swing on this. And the funk. And the power ballad stuff. It starts off with a sermon on a mountain and just never lets up. Epic stuff. Also, Tony M gets a bad rap - he really was great on this album.

Highlights: Love 2 the 9's, My Name is Prince, The Morning Papers, Sexy M.F., 7

8/10

Obsessed - Mariah Carey

Mariah sends Eminem to the burn ward! Or something... she sure does not really sing on this like she used to; very heavy autotune and no fancy stuff. Honestly, sounds more like Lady Gaga!

Highlights: Obsessed

7.5/10

ODDINARY - Stray Kids

Fairly straight-forward big beat hip-hop K-Pop styles from these guys. And I mean that is quite different for Stray Kids; usually their stuff can get unnecessarily complicated! 

Highlights: Waiting For Us, MANIAC, Lonely St., Charmer

7/10

Odelay - Beck

I think Beck is rap for white people that pretend to like hip-hop. 

Highlights: Lord Only Knows, Where It's At, Jack-Ass, High 6 (Rock the Catskills)

7/10

Odelay [Bonus Disc] - Beck

Well this was.. pointless. Like spending my money on Beck!

Highlights: I legit could have bought a few meals instead of these Beck albums

4.5/10

Odyssey Number Five - Powderfinger

I do not have the full album - just a couple of decent songs. Which is a gawdam relief right now.

Highlights: My Happiness, My Kind of Scene

8/10

OE: Brazil - Various Artists

NZ dub and similar musicians do Brazilian style dub? Something like that, I think. So it is terrible in two countries? Just kidding - it is not that bad. Good background music, particularly the more bossa nova tracks.

Highlights: 2 4 1 - Barbatuques & Maaka Phat & P. Digsss, Embrace This Place - Funk Como le & Recloose & Tyna

5.5/10

Off The Soundboard: Live In Donington 1996 - Kiss

Reunion tour Kiss! Like most reunion tour Kiss concerts, it rocks; Gene sings like he has eaten razors, Peter drums with inconsistent tempos, Paul continues being a rockstar frontman, and Ace is Ace. I especially love the way he misses his line in Shout it Out Loud, but then jumps in and tries to make it fit. Very badly. And the beauty of being a music festival is we are talking a 90 minutes concert here - so it is just hot fire Kiss slamming it down!

Highlights: Love Gun, Black Diamond, 100,000 Years, Rock and Roll All Nite

8/10

Off The Soundboard: Live in Tokyo 2001 - Kiss

The last Kiss concert! For all of a year. The last Kiss concert with the original lineup! Except one of them got fired before the last bunch of concerts. Regardless, Eric Singer was awesome on drums and this concert kicks the big butts. Why could they not have made this Alive IV?

Highlights: Detroit Rock City, Deuce, Firehouse, Let Me Go Rock & Roll

8/10

Off the Wall - Michael Jackson

MJ with the disco fire! Take away She's Out of My Life and this would be a perfect album of banger after banger. Still a hell of a disco jam as it it.

Highlights: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Get on the Floor, Rock with You, Burn this Disco Out

8.5/10

OLest - Charisma.com

And speaking of bangers, it is everyone's favourite OL duo. Big beats, funky rhythms, catchy rapping and hooks. 

Highlights: 超絶に胸が痛んでいるあなたの上司, こんがらガール, アラサードリーミン, やれよ。

8/10

On a Day Like Today - Bryan Adams

For as much as I like Bryan Adams, this album is a bit of a weaker effort. There is a sequel of sorts to One Night Love Affair - or at least I like to think it is, because otherwise it just comes across as BA ripping himself off. And the man is way too self-aware to do that. I think maybe the whole thing is missing one of those big ballads he always seemed to pull out. Instead, outside of a few rocking tunes and that awesome duet with Melanie C, a lot of the songs are just kind of middle of the road. That duet with Melanie C sure is awesome, though.

Highlights: When You're Gone, Before the Night is Over, On a Day Like Today, Cloud Number Nine

7/10

On How Life Is - Macy Gray

I would not say no to hearing the rest of this album, but for now I will settle for only having Still in my library. Beautiful song. I still maintain that Macy Gray is the worst actor I have ever witnessed. I should watch Fuller House again...

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1210

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2025 in 2025: Day 135

Northern Star - Melanie C

My favourite Spice Girl goes solo and it is fairly mixed, but still very pop; a bit of dance-pop, a little bit of R&B, but also kind of alt. rock pop styles, if that makes sense? It all kind of under-delivers, but there are some really great moments. I still can not believe that this is the only album of hers that I actually have!

Highlights: Northern Star, Never Be the Same Again, Ga Ga, Go!

7/10

Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings and More - Buddy Holly

Things kick off with a home recording from 1949 that is more listenable than an MCR demo from 2019. Then it is on to his recordings with Bob and, again, it has been cleaned up so well it makes it an interesting listen. It is all very country and Buddy just sings harmony for the most part. Down the Line kicks off the real rock'n roll era. How is the 1955 recording of You And I Are Through actually worse than the recording in 1954? Once we get to 1956, it is non-stop rock'n roll awesomeness. It is actually quite amazing what Buddy Holly achieved in that year alone - he may have recorded more awesome songs that year than Elvis! And the year closes with the garage tapes? Bah gawd, those are the greatest home recordings in the history of music. 1957 may have been even better? And 1958 may be even better than that?!? After the apartment recordings close off everything recorded during his lifetime, it is on to the overdubbed versions and I will always find a lot of fun in some of the Fireballs recordings. Most of them, even - they kind of work for some, but others it just feels unnecessary. There are so many more of these songs than I remember; I always think it was like maybe 15 or 20 songs, but there is like 50 of them! It almost feels like every demo or home recording got The Fireballs treatment. This is quite possibly the best box set I have and will ever own.

Highlights: Rave On, Oh Boy!, Down the Line, I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down, Rock Around with Ollie Vee, It's So Easy, Not Fade Away, Crying Waiting Hoping [Fireballs Version], The Garage Tapes, The Apartment Tapes

9/10

Imagine if I had left these discs as separate albums - I could have deleted 5 other albums, like those NZ music compilations! Also, somewhere in all these Fireball versions was my 15,000th song. How am I only just reaching that now? How am I supposed to listen to another 10,000 in a third of the time?!?

Not Over You [Single] - Gavin DeGraw

Funnily enough, I heard this playing in the supermarket the other day. Dude has such a great voice. Why do I not that first album of his? Might be because he's a MAGA clown? Might be...

8/10

Not Shy - ITZY

Party time. Teen girls do not care what you think of them at all, so they are going to dance and since as much as they want, I guess?

Highlights: Don't Give a What, Not Shy, Be in Love, iD

8/10

NOTHING FROM NOTHING - Ayumi Hamasaki

Classic 90s hip-hop makes for a most lowkey debut for the Empress of J-Pop. She does sound like an annoying teenager here, but that kind of tracks considering she was only 17. I wonder what happened to the other dudes on this...

Highlights: Gut it-pez, NOTHING FROM NOTHING (Album Version), LIMIT, NOTHING FROM NOTHING (Single Version)

8/10

Now What - Lisa Marie Presley

The sophomore and final album from Elvis' daughter. The fact she collaborated with Linda Perry for most of it and a song features Pink should give an indication of the style of music here. Very radio pop rock. 

Highlights: I'll Figure it Out, Thanx, Now What, Turbulence

6.5/10

The Nylon Curtain - Billy Joel

A very political outing from Mr. Joel, covering things like the recession and the Vietnam war. Still channeling The Beatles pretty hard for the most part, too. 

Highlights: Goodnight Saigon, Allentown, She's Right on Time, Pressure

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1197

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2025 in 2025: Day 134

Nine Lives - Aerosmith

I loved this album back in 1997, but then it fell out of favour with me, your hero, LOGMAN. Well, today I will say it is certainly better than I remember. Hole in My Soul is maybe worse than I remember? So corny - and not in the usual way I like. I guess this was the start of them writing trite ballads and thinking that was all they needed to do. But yeah, this album feels kind of like an end of an era, while also being the start of another. 

Highlights: Ain't That a Bitch, Full Circle, Fallen Angels, Attitude Adjustment

7/10

Nirvana - Nirvana

Really, just call it a best of or greatest hits and call it day, guys! And IMO you could have left the Unplugged tracks in your suitcase. 

Highlights: You Know You're Right, Heart-Shaped Box, Pennyroyal Tea

8/10

No Code - Pearl Jam

Is this some sort of 90s morning? Edgelord LOGMAN always said this was the best Pearl Jam album, back when Pearl Jam was his favourite band. I am not sure how much edge someone has to consider this band to be the best - and especially an album as bland as this. Sure, there are a couple of really stand out moments, but the rest is just... here. Eddie Vedder is at his mumbley worst for half the time. And where the hell was Mike McCready?

Highlights: In My Tree, Present Tense, Habit, Who You Are

7/10

No Jacket Required - Phil Collins

I only have two songs from this album. By this point my 80s cred is in negative balance. In my defence, these are absolutely killer songs. Certainly an album that I need to complete at some point.

Highlights: Don't Lose My Number, Take Me Home

10/10

No Name Face - Lifehouse

Just... yawn. Their best song is not even on this album.

Highlights: Hanging By a Moment

6/10

No Shadow (Paxam Singles Series, Vol. 5) - Ryan Adams

When he stole my title, I knew it was all over. For both of us. No Shadow is just classic moody DRA. It's In My Head is very R.E.M. Stoned Alone is just trash.

Highlights: No Shadow, It's In My Head

6.5/10

No Way Out - Puff Daddy & The Family

So this is just I'll Be Missing You and it sure hits differently on a day when Puff Daddy has been sentenced to prison for being a bad, bad person. 

8/10

No. 4 - Stone Temple Pilots

This is a bit heavier and kind of reminds me of Core... just not as good. Like, really not as good. It is all fine and totally listenable, but there is nothing even resembling a hook anywhere to be found.

Highlights: Down, Pruno, Sex & Violence

6.5/10

NON TiE UP [Single] - BiSH

Bah gawd, this song is one massive epic angry and lewd sonic assault. It absolutely crushes. The "b-side" is suitably odd - like some sort of jazz fuzion thing, without losing the BiSH sound.

Highlights: NON TiE-UP, SHA!!HA!!NUA!!Ah.SHI!!ITE.

9/10

Non Zero Sumness - Planet Funk

This is purely the song Who Said (Stuck in the UK). Much like The Music, it is UK indie dance rock - with more emphasis on the dance part. It is a certified banger!

9/10

Non-Album Tracks - L7

Not sure where these all came from, but they are mostly great songs and a little more polished than your usual L7 recordings. Well, some are. Some are the usual lo-fi budget recordings I expect and long for. Mostly covers made to sound like L7.

Highlights: Gas Chamber, This Ain't the Summer of Love

6/10

Non-Album Tracks - Eminem

I do not know where Stimulate came from, but kids these days will never the pain of downloading The Kids off Napster and it would say it was the 'uncensored' version, but then you would listen and of course it would still be censored!

7/10

Non-Album Tracks - Heather Nova

A whole bunch of demos and live songs - I think she gave these out free for buying one of her albums? Or just for kicks? Some are interesting. It is all very acoustic and very chill.

Highlights: Stayin' Alive [Live in Copenhagen 2001], Throwing Fire at the Sun [Live in Japan 1995]

6/10

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell

It is only Tainted Love. I still have some 80s cred? Maybe?

8/10

Nonfiction [Single] - Ayumi Hamasaki

A total dance bop. Ayu's voice is frustrating in parts, but the production is so basic that it just makes you want to strut like a sexy bitch.

8/10

Most of today was NO or NON. A lot of negativity for one day...

"Albums" listened to so far: 1190

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2025 in 2025: Day 133

News of the World - Queen

It is Queen! Late-70s Queen! Which means iconic epic songs and anthems, hard rockin' fun, super chill songs - this album covers most of their bases. 

Highlights: We Are the Champions, Spread Your Wings, It's Late, We Will Rock You

8/10

News of the World: Raw Sessions - Queen

Pretty much the main reason to get the News of the World boxset. Just Brian May putting together an "alternate" version of the album. Clearly there were not many versions of Sleeping on the Sidewalk lying around, so they had to complete things with a live version. Some other songs get almost instrumental versions. 

Highlights: Spread Your Wings (Alternate Take), We Are the Champions (Alternate Version), It's Late (Alternate Version), All Dead All Dea (Original Rough Mix)

7/10

THE NEXT [BiSH Ver.] - BiSH

Just when they were supposed to be done, they go and release a song from the show to find the successor to BiSH. It is fine, no doubt better than the kids on the show did, but by no means classic BiSH.

7/10

→Next Generation - PSYCHIC LOVER

Bah gawd these guys know how to get the party back on track! Pretty much the classic PSYCHIC LOVER mix of bubblegum pop and 80s shred-tastic metal. 

Highlights: ネ・バ・ギ・ビ・ラ! ～ Never Give It Up, →Next Generation, Proud of Wings (instrumental)

8/10

Next Level - Ayumi Hamasaki

I always love that this album starts with such a beautiful song, and then quickly moves in to full-on pop and disco. I need to watch the concert from this tour again, because Ayu in that bob wig and her disco hoodie was absolutely iconic. That strings section in GREEN is about the smoothest thing since Disco Inferno, and lifts the song to places it probably would not deserve otherwise. There are like 4 or 5 instrumentals on here, but they actually flow seamlessly and you do not even notice half of them. Pretty well flawless album, this one!

Highlights: NEXT LEVEL, EnergizE, Days, Rule, rollin'

9/10

A Night at the Opera - Queen

More ICONIC 70s Queen, you say? The crazy thing about this album is it most of this album is some of their biggest hits and most epic recordings. And every so often, they split things up with just pure nonsense and silliness. Bohemian Rhapsody gets all the attention (and deservedly so), but The Prophet's Song is the most adventurous song and features the most incredible vocal layering. And the most perfect heavy guitar tone for about 20 seconds.

Highlights: The Prophet's Song, Bohemian Rhapsody, 39, Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)

8/10

Night in the Ruts - Aerosmith

I lost track of things somewhere and realised this album was on. Seriously. It just encapsulates the most mediocre ideas about how mediocre Aerosmith could be.

Highlights: No Surpize

5.5/10

Night Visions - Imagine Dragons

Once again, how did I end up with this album in my iTunes library? It is not bad or anything, but I barely know 1 song by this band. Oh hey, this song sounds familiar - maybe I have heard that one before, as well? They sound like Coldplay for a modern audience, which is weird considering we still have Coldplay out there touring being Coldplay. I think they still make albums, too?

Highlights: It's Time, On Top of the World, Amsterdam, Working Man

6.5/10

Nimrod - Green Day

Green Day sounding like a less-awesome Living End; this album has some fun, but has them veering further away from pop punk styles of their earlier albums. Really not sure what you would even call this, other than radio rock that could not even make it on radio? I am actually being quite harsh - this album is enjoyable for the most part - it just was very disappointing for someone that had these guys as one of my favourite bands as a teenager. There is none of the fire Dookie and Insomniac had. But I had forgotten about some of the gems on this album, so that is on me.

Highlights: Haushinka, Uptight, The Grouch, Hitchin' a Ride

7/10

Nine - blink-182

This is a real mature album for these dudes; no silly skits or crude lyrics. Just a bunch of earnest pop punk with a bit of emo in there with some electro fun thrown for extra good times. For me, this is the spiritual successor to self-titled and a testament to how much better they were with Skiba.

Highlights: Pin the Grenade, Blame it on My Youth, No Heart to Speak Of, The First Time

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1175

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2025 in 2025: Day 132

Neon Nights - Danni Minogue

Kylie was all the rage again, so it made sense for Danni to get it on the action as well. This album is a tour de force of discofied electro pop. And, honestly, it defies expectations. Non-stop groove. The mashups are suspiciously well done, also.

Highlights: Hey! (So What), Come and Get It, Put the Needle On It, Creep, I Begin to Wonder

7.5/10

Never a Dull Moment - Tommy Lee

He totally should have billed himself as Tömmy Lee. It is all fairly generic modern hard rock. Like Foo Fighters meets Limp Bizkit doing a... Bowie cover. That last part is for real. I am not sure why, but I genuinely expected better from Mr. Lee. Still, better than any other solo album other Crüe members have released since 1993...

Highlights: Fame 02, Blue, Higher

6/10

Never Take Friendship Personal - Anberlin

Time for some mid-00s christian emo! Such an oxymoron. Or just a bunch of morons? That criticism aside, this is just classic emo rock. Some great riffs and cool screams. Lyrics get a bit pretentious, like most emo, but generally the melodies are on point. I will attest until my dying days that I could have improved A Day Late if they had recorded with me in the booth; the chorus just needed a little vocal repeat in the hook and it would have been perfect. Producer LOGMAN always knows best. Lyrics for that song, though, are super cringe; you are a happy christian man with "a lover" wondering what it would have been like to been "lovers" with your friend? Keep that to yourself, buddy! The first 15 seconds of Time & Confusion are killer. Maybe this album just hits me as something that had great potential and falls just short and that is what gets such a reaction from me? Is that the story of my morning so far?? Why am I writing so much about this album?!?

Highlights: Dance Dance Christa Päffgen, The Feel Good Drag, Time & Confusion, Paperthin Hymn

7/10

Nevermind - Nirvana

I want to hate this album. I want to tell you it is overrated and Nirvana are lame. I want to tell you grunge is lame. I want to tell you all sorts of edgelord nonsense. I really do! But by the time that first pre-chorus builds and the chorus explodes in Smells Like Teen Spirit, there is no use pretending. I know the truth. You know the truth. We all know the truth. I have the Butch Vig mix and it being the superior mix is the hill I will die on.

Highlights: Lounge Act, On a Plain, Stay Away, In Bloom

9/10

New Adventures in Hi-Fi - R.E.M.

New adventures in Ebow! This album is a bit more palatable than Monster, and certainly a bit more relaxed. And Peter Buck clearly just discovered how to use an Ebow.

Highlights: The Wake-Up Bomb, E-Bow the Letter, Leave, Bittersweet Me

6.5/10

New Clear Days - The Vapors

This is only the song Turning Japanese. Very appropriate. Give me more Japanese rock instead, please.

8/10

The New Golden Age (Live At Coachella 2008) - Prince

So this actually opens with Prince live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, performing Turn Me Loose, before launching in to a listenable bootleg of Prince performing at Coachella. A fantastic mix of classics and newer material, and a whole barrel of covers done VERY well. And HOLY BUDDY CHRIST OF DOG RIVER not only is the band in good form, but Prince's guitar playing just puts everyone to shame. I thought his solo in Creep - yes, the Radiohead song - was amazing, but then he pulled out some sort of Hendrix-inspired blues solo jamming in Come Together and my face melted and I am dead. My corpse is going to finish my bLog for me.

Highlights: Come Together, Creep, Purple Rain, Turn Me Loose, Controversy/Housequake

8/10

New Jersey - Bon Jovi

This album is better than it has any right to be; I do not think there is another album of the 1980s that even comes close to achieving what Bon Jovi did here. Almost everything is epic in nature, without sounding overblown or overproduced. If you are looking for some of the best straight up rock songs Bon Jovi ever recorded, or the best power ballads they ever recorded, then this is the place to come. There is not a bad moment on the whole darn thing. Not even an average one!

Highlights: Stick to Your Guns, Wild is the Wind, I'll Be There For You, Blood on Blood - but really, just listen to the whole album

10/10

New Tattoo - Mötley Crüe

The Crüe return without all that modern nonsense of Generation Swine - including that awesome drummer of theirs, because Tommy hated them too much and wanted to make rap-rock instead. Things are still showing hints of punk, but it is more radio rock than anything. Definitely nothing as heavy as Dr. Feelgood or where they have headed since.

Highlights: Hell on High Heels, First Band on the Moon, She Needs Rock N Roll, Fake

7/10

New World Disorder - Biohazard

The title is like what happened in WCW when we had the New World Order Black & White, New World Order Wolfpac, and the Latino World Order. Fun times were had by all! Interestingly, this album came out around the same time all that was happening! All this anger at politicians and war and fascism and the general state of the world makes for the perfect soundtrack while tracking the Sumud Flotilla and watching activists get arrested by a terrorist regime.

Highlights: Switchback, Cycle of Abuse, Inner Fear On, Resist

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1165

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2025 in 2025: Day 131

A N D - Tricot

Look, iTunes, I see what you were doing here... but it is weird. Just like Tricot can be, some times. Bah gawd, these songs have so much attack - they sound like they are just straight-up beating these songs out of their instruments. I think the kids call this math rock? All the crazy time signatures and whatnot are fun and all, but I kind of prefer when the songs are a bit more straight indie rock. Either way, this is all pretty badassery.

Highlights: Noradrenaline, い～ん (A N D ver.), 食卓, Break

7/10

Nameless Fiction - Hello Sleepwalkers

More Japanese indie math-rock style? This time with a bit more of a RADWIMPS flavour. Having both male and female vocals gives a nice mix.

Highlights: 天地創造, Mr.Dの手記

6.5/10

Native (Deluxe Edition) - OneRepublic

This album often feels like reworkings of other songs. Honestly, I think they should have at least given Kanye and Florence + the Machine songwriting credits. Some of their stuff is pretty average, but certainly when they are copying other people is when they are at their best.

Highlights: Burning Bridges, Life in Color, Counting Stars, If I Lose Myself

6/10

Nature's Best - Various Artists

How do I have YET ANOTHER compilation of New Zealand music? And more than half the songs here are duplicates from the other New Zealand music compilations I have. I do not need ANY Dave Dobbyn in my life. BUT I will take this as a fun excuse to listen to Jesus I Was Evil again...

Highlights: Six Months in a Leaky Boat - Split Enz, Jesus I Was Evil - Darcy Clay, I See Red - Split Enz

7/10

Naveed - Our Lady Peace

Fun story time: I got this album for free when I bought Clumsy on CD, but later decided I did not think much of it and traded it in. A few years later, I realised I was stupid and had to buy it again. Early OLP had so much passion and energy in their songs. The result of having an awesome drummer and a singer that goes hard. Denied is just unhinged!

Highlights: Denied, Naveed, Starseed, Julia

7.5/10

Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

Fairly predictable American country-pop. They sure love their Americana and... drinking alcohol, apparently. I am not saying this is bad, I am just saying this is an hour I could have spent listening to more Our Lady Peace, because Canadian alt. rock is clearly a better option, and after that album I really need a dose of Happiness...

Highlights: Perfect Day, Our Kind of Love

6/10

Neighborhoods - blink-182

The first 'reunion' album... I have not bothered with the second reunion, yet. Mostly because I thought Skiba was an improvement. Especially after this album; there are some great songs that follow on nicely from the self-titled album, but Tom's voice is pretty bad and the recordings do not hide the fact they were not really enjoying this. The fact they recorded their stuff separately is quite apparent. 

Highlights: After Midnight, Snake Charmer, Mh 4.18.2011, Even If She Falls

6.5/10

Nellyville - Nelly

Dissing KRS-One is not cool. The rest of this album, however, is. Which is bizarre, because it is just the epitome of early 00s hip-hop; super slick production, rapping about yachts, blues guitar, The Neptunes and even a cameo Justin Timberlake (before the NSYNC split). But Nelly just has a swagger that works, for me. But, like, the real hip-hop is over there...

Highlights: Hot in Herre, On the Grind, Work It, Say Now, #1

7/10

Nena - Nena

This is only the song 99 Red Balloons. Because I am from the 80s where it is law to enjoy this song. I think I need the Goldfinger cover as well, because that was pretty rad. It was Goldfinger, right? Apparently pop punk covers of 80s pop songs works.

8/10

Neon Ballroom - Silverchair

This album was the first steps in changing my mind about Silverchair; until this, I saw them as purely some stupid kids trying to sound like Nirvana and they sucked. This is very far from that. Big epic songs with manic piano pieces and orchestral arrangements, angry screams about animal liberation, heartfelt ballads and straight decent radio rock numbers. Their follow-up album was even better musically, but for some reason I have never picked it up. I am a weird person to try and understand... And some of this album still sounds like Nirvana wannabes.

Highlights: Anthem for the Year 2000, Miss You Love, Ana's Song (Open Fire), Point of View

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1155

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2025 in 2025: Day 130

My Instant Song [Single] - MONOEYES

Two bonus songs means LOGMAN has to purchase. Especially since they played When I Was King at Fireball Fest, so I needed it to complete the playlist!

Highlights: My Instant Song, When I Was King, What I Left Today

8/10

My Lives - Billy Joel

Things kick off with a few demos from the 60s. They are very poor quality and heavily influenced by The Beatles. They actually end up sounding like a band that is copying a band that is trying to sound like The Beatles. Then Joel goes solo and it gets all 'Paul McCartney meets Ray Charles' - in a good way! Not sure he needed to make a reggae version of any of his songs. And this whole set could be a lot shorter if they did not include so many final album cuts. Then we get some fairly average live cuts, and things close out with Billy Joel trying his hand at classical compositions. I guess.

Highlights: I Go to Extremes (Live), The River of Dreams (Alternate Version), Zanzibar, Christie Lee (Demo), Captain Jack (Live)

6/10

My Own Destruction - ELLEGARDEN

Yes please. 細美さん making silly songs about dating a woman twice his age, and sandwiching it between an angry diss at his ex AND one of the most emo songs in the entire ELLEGARDEN catalogue was a choice. A good one! I am not sure if you realise this, but I quite like this ELLEGARDEN band.

Highlights: 右手, Jamie, Under Control, おやすみ

9/10

My Soul - Coolio

This is only C U When U Get There. I'll C U when I get more Coolio!

8/10

MY STORY - Ayumi Hamasaki

When that first chorus for About You kicks in, it is just massive! Like everything on this album. Every song has so much emotion just pouring out of it - even the instrumentals and the quiet chill-out tracks like HAPPY ENDING. I could be wrong, but this feels like her most guitar rock-centred album; there is some dance pop and some R&B style in here - it is Ayu, so you will always get diversity - but it just feels like 90% of the songs were written on guitar. Which accounts for why this album is just full of the tastiest most perfect guitar solos. And her vocal performance is just perfection. I want to break the marathon just to listen to this album again. M is for Moments Is A Perfect Song? M is for My Favourite Album?

Highlights: Moments, winding road, About You, GAME

9/10

M started with Ayu and ended with Ayu. And the Ayu albums in-between were the friends we made along the way...

"Albums" listened to so far: 1145

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2025 in 2025 Day 129

Music Box - Mariah Carey

This is all pretty standard R&B; the usual safe songs with ridiculous over the top (but awesome) vocals. The singles/hits were singles/hits for a reason.

Highlights: Now That I Know, Dream Lover, Anytime You Need a Friend, Hero

6.5/10

Music for Our Mother Ocean - Various Artists

I bought this album because I was a massive Pearl Jam fan and it had a random Pearl Jam song on it, so that meant I had to have it. These days I would tell you that song is not so great and would likely be better if a better person sang it. And the same goes for 90% of this album because HOLY BALLS this is mostly just crap covers of songs that have something to do with the ocean, but mostly surfing. Except for Helmet covering Bjork's Army of Me. Like... why?!? Soundgarden just contribute My Wave, I guess because it has the word "wave" in the title. And it is probably the best song on the whole thing. Would you believe they made THREE of these compilations. Luckily, Pearl Jam were not on the second and I managed to live with just a download of their song on the third one...

Highlights: I Can't Surf - The Reverend Horton Heat, My Wave - Soundgarden, Waggy - blink-182, Good Times - Sprung Monkey

6/10

Music for the People - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

Good Vibrations is an absolute JAM and I dare anyone to say otherwise. Marky Mark himself is an absolute POS, and that is a real shame.

9/10

Music from "The Elder" - Kiss

You know, I once read something about how when Ace Frehley was sent a copy of the finished album, he listened to it and then threw it across the room. I would like to do the same.

Highlights: Dark Light, The idea of Ace Frehley throwing the tape while laughing as only Ace can

4/10

Music from Star Trek and Music from The Black Hole - Meco

Meco is at his best doing medleys of themes, so this is what I paid my admission for. I am not familiar with The Black Hole at all, so the second half of this just sounds like variations on the Star Wars themes, to me. Just with some funky slap bass.

Highlights: Star Trek Medley, Meteorites

7/10

Music From the Edge of Heaven - Wham!

Because I am a disgrace to my family and all around me, this is not the full album and only the hit song I'm Your Man. Which is an awesome song. I believe I mentioned this previously, but I really should have all the Wham!

8/10

Music to Crash Your Car To [Volume 1] - Mötley Crüe

I have all the albums on their own, of course, but I kept these collections in here for the bonus songs (after removing the full albums). And in this case, it features the original mix of Too Fast For Love. Which I had never heard until this release. And I gotta say... it is better! Mostly; Vince's voice has either been processed more or re-recorded in parts on the re-release, and there are some musical changes that I prefer (like the intro to Too Fast For Love - I like it just kicking without whatever they had going on here). And I am probably more used to the re-release tracklist/order. So... not really better just different? There are demos and stuff for the next 3 albums as well. Obviously, the demos are not as good as the studio versions. But this instrumental of Wild Side sure does reaffirm for me that it is one of the Crue's best songs.

Highlights: Toast of the Town, Rodeo, Tonight, Piece Of Your Action (Leathur Original Mix), Live Wire (Leathur Original Mix)

7/10

Music to Crash Your Car To [Volume 1] - Mötley Crüe

And we keep the party rolling! The original lyrics of Dr. Feelgood are hilariously bad. And "Ooh! Aah! Kickstart my heart!" is even funnier. I cannot imagine a world where Dr. Feelgood would have been so successful, had they not changed these songs for the better. Especially this gawdawful church organ in Time for Change. Then we get a bunch of random actual songs that are mostly kickass. Especially the ones from Decade of Decadence. 

Highlights: Say Yeah, Hypnotize, Primal Scream, Rock'n Roll Junkie, Angela, Anarchy in the U.K.

7/10

Musicology - Prince

School is in! This just a straight-up no-nonsense album, full of funky cuts, bluesy guitars and sexy jams. About as "classic Prince" as you could ever imagine from the man in 2004.

Highlights: Call My Name, If Eye Was the Man in Your Life, The Marrying Kind, Refletion

8/10

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

This is the album of a millionty cameos. Oh look - here comes Alicia Keys to just shout "Whoa-whoa" and here is Elton John to sing three words! This is also the only Nicki Minaj rap that was ever any good. Meanwhile, Kanye is just even grosser than usual. And Jay-Z embarrasses him on his own songs, again. Twice, even!

Highlights: Power, All of the Lights, So Appalled, Runaway

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1140

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2025 in 2025: Day 128

Let's check out what is happening in the MTV studios today...

MTV Unplugged - Alanis Morissette

Peak Alanis, right here. A mix of songs from Jagged Little Pill and Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie - which both rule - but the real highlights here are the rare songs not from those albums. These R the Thoughts is the only that had been previously recorded, but this unplugged version is actually better.

Highlights: These R the Thoughts, Joining You, No Pressure Over Cappuccino, Princes Familiar

8.5/10

MTV Unplugged - Alice in Chains

A very sombre affair. I actually really enjoy the tracks from the self-titled album on here, because it proves what I thought about removing all the dirge and you get good songs. Still dark and nihilistic, but good. Layne Staley really is not in good form here, but then I guess he probably does okay for a dude that was doing so much heroin that he refused to leave his house again after this.

Highlights: No Excuses, Sludge Factory, Angry Chair, Over Now

7/10

MTV Unplugged - Bryan Adams

This is some serious re-working of these songs. Nice for a bit of a change, and he certainly brought in a crazy good team of musicians to do it. And some random new songs as well. It is BA being BA. It never fails.

Highlights: Back to You, Cuts Like a Knife, Heaven, A Little Love

8/10

MTV Unplugged - Kiss

Greatest MTV Unplugged album. Greatest live album. When I am not listening to the CD, I should be watching it on DVD. 

Highlights: 57 minutes of good times

10/10

MTV Unplugged - Jay-Z

Jay-Z teaming up with The Roots to give his songs a real groove. The funniest part is that this is a TV show, so he is censoring himself all through the songs. Which, given how much Jay swears and says rude things, must have been a serious challenge and proves why Hova is the best.

Highlights: Izzo  (H.O.V.A.), Takeover, Heart of the City (Ain't No Love),  Jigga That N****

8/10

MTV Unplugged - Mariah Carey

Have I mentioned Mariah Carey is an awesome singer? Like, if Boyz II Men were just one woman, I am not sure they would be as good as her. I will even allow her to sing a Jackson 5 song.

Highlights: I'll Be There, Emotions, Make It Happen

7.5/10

MTV: Extreme Galacial Beats - Various Artists

Lots of electronic music, but not just a DJ mix like most of those other albums I have. This is just a straight up compilation of big breaks to go do "extreme" things to, I guess? It is pretty great, in parts. 

Highlights: Out of Control - The Chemical Brothers, 138 Trek - DJ Zinc, Stakker Humanoid (Krafty Kuts Remix) - Humanoid, We Are Alive (DJ Icey's Arctic Bass Mix) - Paul Van Dyj

6.5/10

MTV: Extreme Alpine Chills - Various Artists

More of the same, except - as the title suggest - this is all a lot more chill. And features more of your well-known electro names, like Moby and Fatboy Slim. 

Highlights: Relax - Etienne De Crecy, Karmacoma - Massive Attack, Fire in the Middle - Nightmares on Wax, I've Got a Right - Only Child

6/10

Mugenmirai - Perfume

The curse of purchasing J-Pop singles in iTunes is having to deal with romaji in the titles. But I love this song, so I just have to deal with it. I probably need more Perfume in my life.

9/10

The Music - The Music

Early 00s UK dance indie rock? Who cares - the important thing is this is a serverly underrated album. It loses its steam towards the end, for sure, but otherwise it just immediately gets rocking and never stops.

Highlights: Take the Long Road and Walk It, The People, The Dance, Human

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1130

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2025 in 2025: Day 127

Mosaic - Wang Chung

Everybody have fun tonight! This is just peak 80s pop in all its glory. And there is a surprising amount of angry swearing at how our capitalist society is destroying our world!

Highlights: Everybody Have Fun Tonight, Let's Go, The World in Which We Live

7/10

Most of All: The Best of - Debbie Harry

Blondie were pretty cool. And Debbie Harry herself is cool. But... her solo work is pretty naff. Outside of a couple of songs, it is all very uninspired and only shows that her voice was pretty average. I am not saying someone like Mariah Carey could have made these songs more worthwhile... actually, her duetting with Iggy Pop would have been wild.

Highlights: I Want That Man, French Kissin' in the USA, Free to Fall, In Love With Love

6/10

Mother Love Bone - Mother Love Bone

These dudes had great riffs. A lot of great riffs. It is just that, in general, the rest of the song did not follow up on said great riff as well as you would want. BUT when they got it right, they really got it right. Despite the hype, I do not think they would have been any bigger had Andrew Wood lived.

Highlights: Stardog Champion, This is Shangrila, Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns, Gentle Groove

7/10

Mötley Crüe - Mötley Crüe

When this came out, I remember people using all sorts of weird genre terms to describe; thrash metal, death metal, grunge... none of them at all accurate. People just looked at images and decided that was the sound. What it DOES sound like, is awesomeness. This is still kinda Mötley Crüe - just with a different singer. And big balls. New (temporary?) singer John Corabi's voice is so different to Vince Neil's, that it always amazes me he was their first choice. It's really a good mix of the heavier/darker songs and a little more radio-friendly rock, plus Droppin' Like Flies is sort of prog? Maybe kinda not really. Smoke the Sky is some sort of ode to marijuana usage - which is odd coming from guys that were supposed to be completely free of alcohol and drugs at this point (I mean, I'm pretty sure I saw Tommy knocking back champagne when I went to his DJ gig a few years back, but whatever). Honestly, when this album came out, I know I bought in to all the negative press around it - being a big fan of the original line-up, it was hard not to. But within a few years, I was able to realise that this album is actually darn awesome. Really darn awesome.

Highlights: Misunderstood, Hooligan's Holiday, Power to the Music, Welcome to the Numb

8/10

Mountain Top [Single] - ELLEGARDEN

When this was first released, it was never going to live up to my expectations; the first single in 16 years, the first piece of recording since their reunion, and just something I never thought would happen in my lifetime. It has since grown on me and definitely appreciate it a lot more. Still sounds kind of generic rock, but at least the lyrics are great. And ELLEGARDEN are back, mofos!

8/10

The Movie - The Shit

This may well be Ryan Adams' best work ever. Certainly his greatest lyrics. A lot of Andy Fiddlesticks, Jo Jo the Parrot and punching in the nuts. KING FUCKING KONG!!!

Highlights: Honky Tonk Ba-Donkey Kong, Jimmy, Blue as a Zoo, Taco Bell in Bed, Problems

9/10

MPLSound - Prince

I only just discovered what the MPLS stands for. I am not American, okay? This is a total solo Prince album and it is just funky pop all the way. By Prince standards, it is... mediocre. Like, he probably just sat down at the computer and pumped this all out in like half a day.

Highlights: No More Candy 4 U, (There'll Never B) Another Like Me, Valentina, Ol' Skool Company

7/10

Mr. Bad Guy - Freddie Mercury

Hard to believe this was his only real solo album. It is almost what you would expect; lots of keyboards, synths and dance beats, but a lot less layered vocals than a Queen album. I get the feeling that is more of a Brian May thing. The songs reworked for Made in Heaven sound better there.

Highlights: Made in Heaven, I Was Born to Love You, Mr. Bad Guy

6.5/10

Mr. T's Commandments - Mr. T

The greatest man ever is here to tell you how to be better. The most important 30 minutes of your life, outside of watching Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool.

Highlights: The Toughest Man in the World, Mr. T Mr. T, You Got to Go Through It, The One and Only Mr. T

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1120

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2025 in 2025: Day 126

(miss)understood - Ayumi Hamasaki

Album # 1100, three mornings in a row starting with The Empress, and we return to that peak era. This album is one where I think it is good and then I listen to it and I am like HOLY MACKERAL WILL IT EVER STOP BEING AWESOME?!? Like, try and find a better opening run than these first five songs. Then the middle eases up a bit, but then towards the end we get one of her best ballads ever, one of her best instrumentals ever, and then some great pop to end things off. 

Highlights: HEAVEN, STEP you, Are You Wake Up?, (miss)understood, is this LOVE?

8.5/10

Missing You - K.Will

The next chapter in my random K-Pop song collection. This is a couple of light tracks - a ballad and a bit of a dance number. Not bad. Good voice.

Highlights: Missing You, Hypnosis

6.5/10

The Mix Tape - KRS-One

This is purely The Real Hip-Hop is Over Here. A massive and direct diss at Nelly. Probably one of my favourite diss tracks, because KRS knows how to put some lyrics together. If I were Nelly, I probably would have cried myself to sleep every night for a month, with my face buried in a pile of cash...

9/10

The Mix-Up - Beastie Boys

Instrumental acid jazz fun times from these cats. It is great... but admittedly, a bit disappointing. Only because their instrumentals on all their albums were super awesome, and these are a bit more of a loose jam. Still pretty funky in parts, though.

Highlights: Off the Grid, The Cousin of Death, The Melee, Freaky Hijiki

7/10

The Mix-Up (Bonus Tracks EP) - Beastie Boys

Like the name says, these are leftover tracks they threw online and made suckers like me buy. More of the same, but at least the title track made the cut here!

Highlights: The Mix-Up

6.5/10

Mixed Up - The Cure

There are "extended mix" versions of songs from Disintegration? Imagine adding them to the album. And then doing "extended mix" versions of more songs on the album. Would it ever end? Wait - the "extended dub mix" of Pictures of You is actually shorter than the album version. What a world!

Highlights: Never Enough (Big Mix), Fascination Street (Extended Mix), A Forest (Tree Mix)

7/10

Mixed Up World [Single] - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

A few neat songs by the kitchen disco queen.

Highlights: Mixed Up World, The Earth Shook the Devil's Hand

7/10

Moanin' - Mr. Airplane Man

This is the song Somebody's Baby. This has gotta be somebody else's song, because I have no idea where this came from or what this is or even who this band is.

6/10

Modjo - Modjo

The is purely the song Lady (Hear Me Tonight). I do not know of any other songs by Modjo. Do they have any other songs? Do they need any other songs?

8/10

Monster - R.E.M.

I feel like this album is R.E.M. trying to lean in to that whole 'grunge' thing, when they had been some sort of indie rock band for like 15 years at this point - and actually been doing the major label pop-rock thing for half of that time, anyways. And I know all the grunge bands respected them or whatever... but this just does not work for me at all. Well, the grunge parts; the few parts where they actually produce well-crafted pop-rock songs works nicely.

Highlights: Strange Currencies, What's the Frequency Kenneth?

5/10

Moodring - Mýa

This is purely the Missy produced My Love Is Like...Wo. Because I take Missy in all forms, even if it is just her going "Wo" over a big beat.

9/10

Moondancer - Meco

Meco taking a break from the disco-fied soundtracks to make some of his own disco music. Dracula's coming!

Highlights: Love Me Dracula, Spooky, Devil Delight, Living in the Night

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1111

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2025 in 2025: Day 125

mimosa - Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayu's most recent single. Nothing groundbreaking, but very good. Still Ayu.

8/10

Mind Games - John Lennon

This albums is very low key, but lyrically still very protesty and freedom for the people. Just less angsty than Sometime in New York City. Almost like Lennon is tired and his energy a bit drained since the last album flopped. And he was drinking and partying a lot. Probably that. 

Highlights: Mind Games, I Know (I Know), Meat City, Out of the Blue

7/10

Minor Earth Major Sky - a-ha

Interesting how these guys always seemed to grow and adapt their sound to be more in step with what was happening in pop music; this certainly sounds like something from around 2000, without sounding too terrible. 

Highlights: Velvet, The Sun Never Shone That Day, Barely Hanging On

6.5/10

Holy moly we are just following up yesterday hilariously well!

Minutes to Midnight - Linkin Park

Not a lot of Mike Shinoda on this one. And the album is boring. Coincidence? Musically, it does have good moments. It is just having it all rely on Chester Bennington do his thing just does not give the songs any dynamics. The proof is in the only two songs that feature Shinoda doing his thing, too, and they are easily the best songs on the album.

Highlights: Bleed It Out, Shadow of the Day, What I've Done

6/10

The Miracle - Queen

This album has it all; dance bops, simple pop, ballads, synth bass, computer drums... and in there are two of their biggest straight rock songs ever. Brian May's tone on this album is absolute perfection. I do have the box set and am looking forward to listening to the various outtakes and what not - I have already heard the version of Breakthru on there with the real drums and bass and it sounds awesome - but I still have like 900 albums in here to get through... so maybe in 2026...

Highlights: I Want It All, Was It All Worth It, Breakthru, The Miracle

8.5/10

Miracle Driving - JUDY AND MARY

Fairly standard JAM offering, though much less punk than usual. But still enjoyable.

Highlights: Miracle Night Driving, Kyoto, Platinum, ステレオぜんかい

7/10

A Mirage in the Sun - MONOEYES

I was going to say something about this being their weakest album, but it really is not. Or all their albums are great and I just sometimes pretend otherwise? The end three songs here are absolute perfection - like the ending of a PASSPO☆ album. These dudes actually released a new album a couple of weeks ago. Shame I will have to wait three more months to check it out...

Highlights: 明日公園で, Wish it Was Snowing Out, Remember Me, グラニート

8/10

MIRROR - SCANDAL

While I do miss the angsty punk vibes from their previous couple of albums, the newfound creativity on display throughout this album more than makes up for it. I should learn some of these riffs for the next time I get to demo Mami's signature strat. That thing is art!

Highlights: MIRROR, eternal, 彼女はWave, アイボリー

8/10

Mirrorball - Sarah McLachlan

For those keeping score at home, this makes THREE live albums from Sarah McLachlan in my collection. Insert a gif of Tim Robinson saying "What the hell?" from I Think You Should Leave here. In fairness, the previous two were EPs and this is a full on long album. And it is long. And it is very good. The songs generally have a bit of an extra kick going on, although I am not sure any of them needed shredding guitar solos.

Highlights: Sweet Surrender, Ice Cream, Wait, Do What You Have to Do

7/10

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill

Ms. Hill gets a lot of flack, but she also gets away with a lot. A LOT. People give her more leeway than she probably deserves, but the reason for that is this album is a gawdam masterpiece. Two parts hip-hop, two parts R&B, one part reggae, one part gospel, three parts soul. All parts brilliant.

Highlights: Ex-Factor, Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing), Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

9/10

Miss-E... So Addictive - Missy Elliott

Oooh yeah we are just hitting all my hip-hop bumps today! This may not be Missy's best work, but there are still some killer tracks. This is her and Timberland starting to find their groove between between making artsy creative hip-hop and getting some hooks. Missy's rhymes are badass, though. And she sure does not have patience for fools. 

Highlights: Get Ur Freak On, One Minute Man (Remix), Dog in Heat, Old School Joint, Step Off

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1099

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2025 in 2025: Day 124

Memorial Address - Ayumi Hamasaki

Could this EP be any more Ayu? It just needs one of her angry heavy Linkin Park style tracks, otherwise it has everything else you would expect; fun pop, funky grooves, big rock ballads. Absolutely awesome.

Highlights: Memorial Address, HANABI ～episode II～, ourselves

9/10

Memorial Beach - a-ha

I hesitate to use the word dark here, but this is more artsy and blues-rock than their previous work. Like, they've clearly been listening to some grunge, but it has not totally overtaken their complete sound. And it really works for me! This album makes me appreciate their all-around musicianship.

Highlights: Move to Memphis, Cold as Stone, Between Your Mama and Yourself, Lie Down in the Darkness

7/10

Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey

Ms. Carey could sing to me the full screenplay of Avatar and the ingredients of a tin of baked beans and I am sure I would sit there all doe-eyed. Merry Christmas!

Highlights: All I Want for Christmas is You

6.5/10

Messin' with the Boys - Cherie & Marie Currie

I did briefly mention The Currie sisters many years ago. The performance in that video is the stuff! This album is so far removed from The Runaways - like a Peter Criss album is to a Kiss album. The reissue is certainly overkill and unnecessary. The world does not need 1288 versions of Cherry Bomb!

Highlights: Since You've Been Gone, Messin' with the Boys, Elaine, This Time

7/10 for the original album, 6/10 for the reissue

Meteora - Linkin Park

Sometimes you just feel like a bit of angry LP doing the angry LP thing. There is something comforting about it, I think. Any album where Mike Shinoda raps lots gets my approval. More on that tomorrow...

Highlights: Lying from You, Nobody's Listening, Numb, Figure.09

7.5/10

Midnite Vultures - Beck

Weird noises, silly lyrics, some funky basslines and the occasional actual hooks. I can appreciate his attempt to make a silly Prince album - and in parts it totally works. But, like, I have Prince. And Flight of the Conchords doing silly Prince.

Highlights: Milk & Honey, Mixed Bizness, Debra, Sexx Laws

6/10

Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics

This is only the song All I Need is a Miracle. It is some sort of 80s staple.

7/10

Milk and Honey - John Lennon/Yoko Ono

If ever an album out there needed to be re-recorded it would be this. Normally I am somewhat against that sort of thing, but in this case I wholeheartedly support it. Hell, bring in McCartney if you must and have him record some backing vocals; the songs being unfinished means Lennon's vocal performances are less than what he was aiming for. There are some pretty decent songs here. They just needed to be... finished.

Highlights: Nobody Told Me, I'm Stepping Out, Grow Old with Me

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1088

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2025 in 2025: Day 123

The Masterplan - Oasis

I used to find the record label spiel about these dudes doing I am the Walrus live so dishonest; they would always brag about how "The Beatles never attempted to play it live" and I am like, sure - because they quit playing live before they had even written the song, so they never had the chance. Some of these songs are very good, and some are vey much deserving of just being a b-side. And there were so many better songs left off that LOGMAN had to make his own compilation of them.

Highlights: Acquiesce, Talk Tonight, Stay Young, The Masterplan

7.5/10

Mata Leão - Biohazard

It was a shame to drop an awesome guitarist, but it did mean that just being a trio these dudes churned out a fast and furious hardcore piece of awesome. This is just the most no-nonsense album they ever made. And I think I stole some of the liner notes from this album to pad out the credits of The Return of the Mystery Monks of the Shaolin Temple.

Highlights: Authority, Modern Democracy, Control, In Vain

8/10

Matangi - M.I.A.

Well, this album is... crazy? At least, it starts out fairly weird and then slowly gains some sense of normality. And then back to the crazy. M.I.A. sure likes to shout out of tune.

Highlights: Exodus, Bad Girls

5.5/10

The Matrix: Music From the Motion Picture - Various Artists

Well, I used to have this album, but then I ditched it and only kept Rob D's Clubbed to Death. Because it is a very mean beat. I do not think the rest of the album was worth it.

8/10

MAXIDENT - Stray Kids

These guys are such a conundrum; MASSIVE beats and generally very hooky-hooks, but then they love making silly noises and having sections that just have zero flow. When they do it right, they really do it right.

Highlights: CASE 143, CHILL, TASTE, Can't Stop

7.5/10

Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too - Иew Radicals

No surprises, I only have one song. But it is not You Get What You Give - surprise! It is, of course, Someday We'll Know. Great song. One day I might check out the full album.

8/10

Measure of a Man - Clay Aiken

This is all very harmless mature pop music. Which is probably quite a waste of a singer like Clay Aiken.

Highlights: Invisible, Run to Me, I Survived You, Measure of a Man

6.5/10

The Meat Won't Listen - WereWolph

14 songs. 7 minutes. And 2 songs make up half of that time. The covers are hilarious - even when he covers himself - but some of this is very much not metal. DRA fails, yet again!

Highlights: I would like a full cover of Creed's Higher

4/10

Mechanical Advantage (The Covers EP) - Robot Goes Here

Absolutely hilarious low budget electro covers or rock and punk songs. The programmed vocals on Back in Black are amazing.

Highlights: Back in Black, The Trooper, Live in the Van

5.5/10

megaphonic - YUKI

YUKI finally embracing just being the artpop queen she always had inside her. With a little bit of pop-rock thrown in. Really solid album all around

Highlights: 鳴いてる怪獣, 相思相愛, Hello!, マイ・プライヴェート・アイダホ

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1080

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2025 in 2025: Day 122

The Man From Manhattan - Eddie Howell

Freddie Mercury and Brian May get far too much billing for this. Well, Mercury does. Brian May's guitar is very obvious. But the Queen influence is all over this thing. Not a bad song, but I think Freddie was a tad optimistic to be so sure it was going to be a hit. But then again, compared to everything else on this, it is a sure fire classic!

Highlights: The Man From Manhattan, The Man From Manhattan (Revisited)

6/10

Man of Colours - Icehouse

I absolutely MUST get this album in full. One of the best Australian albums of the 80s, no doubt. And I am missing songs like Nothing Too Serious and My Obsession.

Highlights: Crazy, Electric Blue

9/10

MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 - BTS

This album is pure art. The solo songs being called interludes is hilarious, but ties it all together and everything here is different levels of great. Normally, I would be critical of an album this length, but it never gets too much, because there is so much going on and it all slams. It is impossible to not enjoy the BTS pop/hip-hop/R&B stylings. They are their own genre. And all of it proves once again that RM has the stupidest but most accurate name. Bah gawd I want to just listen to this all day.

Highlights: Intro: Persona, Dionysus, ON, Moon, We are Bulletproof: The Eternal, Outro: Ego

9/10

Map The Soul - Epik High

More Korean hip-hop! Another random song in my collection - Scenario. This might not be on BTS' level, but it is sure solid!

8/10

Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey

Everything about this, from the production to the hooks to Mariah's absolutely killer vocals, just screams 1990 to me. And I am here for it! Is it her that does the rapping on Prisoner? Because that is just wild! Someone needs to ask 10 year-old LOGMAN what his problem with Mariah was, because this album is my jam.

Highlights: Vision of Love, Prisoner, Someday, Love Takes Time

8/10

The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem

This was an album I listened to non-stop back in 2000. And as much as I have grown up in the last 25 years, I can still say that some of these beats are awesome and the lyrics are mostly hilarious. The homophobia and whatnot has not aged well. Steve Berman skits, however, never get old. Oh snap, this just reminded me of when I saw Live in concert and that dude started 'singing' The Way I Am at the end of one of their cheesy songs. Xzibit used to be so darn cool. Kim is the most wonderfully disturbing song of the year 2000.

Highlights: The Way I Am, Bitch Please II, Under the Influence, Criminal

8/10

MarugotoStarterActivitiesMp3LessonReview - The Japan Foundation

Well, lots of audio from one of my earliest textbooks. Great for practicing on my walk to/from the office back in the day. Where else do you want me to put it? In the fridge?

Highlights: practice makes perfect

7/10

The Massacre - 50 Cent

Remember when 50 Cent was one of the biggest hip-hop superstars in the world? Now, he may be more famous for being on social media and throwing money at stuff. And making fun of Floyd Mayweather. He should do more of that part. This stuff works best when it is going hard, because his LL Cool J impersonation is pretty lame.

Highlights: Get In My Car, Ski Mask Way, My Toy Soldier, Hate It or Love It (Remix)

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1070

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