Wednesday, 12 February 2025

2025 in 2025: Day 22

BETWEEN THE TEN [Disc 1] - YUKI
What better way to start the day than with a chronological compilation of all of YUKI's b-sides? And this wasn't compiled by me. Totally official. It's since been updated (online only) to celebrate her 20th anniversary as a solo artist, so that version is now totally complete (even with a new title and everything), and this album is stuck in 2012. But via iTunes means I would have to have all the romaji in the song titles, and I would rather avoid that plague of silliness. 
Highlights: ありがとう, 17才, 舞い上がれ, 首輪
7/10

BETWEEN THE TEN [Disc 2] - YUKI
Honestly, not much to say here. These are good songs - genuinely nothing bad going on here. Just a mixed bag of styles and varying between folky and dance bops - which is totally par for the course when it comes to YUKI. I think all I'm missing in my collection is a couple of singles and the b-sides on that 20th anniversary release.
Highlights: just life! all right!, 誘惑してくれ, Wild Ladies
7/10

BEYONCÉ - Beyoncé
This has videos as well? I wonder if my iTunes will play those... Anyways, I have never listened to this. Seriously. Was added to my iTunes by someone else and I have no idea why, as I am not a fan of Beyoncé and find her fandom annoying. Not as annoying as Taylor Swift fans, though. Come at me, Swifties. Shiizz, I ain't afraid of you mofos! These songs are too long and just not good. Well, they are somewhat fine musically, but the melodies and vocals and lyrics are just totally naff. Also, Drake is on a song? So I have Drake in my iTunes?!? Yeah, this is going to be a HARD delete. I curse the person that put that MF in my iTunes. At least the videos did NOT play.
Highlights: XO
4/10

Beyond Good and Evil - The Cult
This is only the song Rise. It rocks. It was most welcome after an hour of mediocre Beyoncé.
7/10

Big Band... Small World - Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and Friends
I was sure I had the whole album, but seems to be simply George Harrison performing Horse to the Water. Apparently Harrison's last recorded performance? And he wrote it with his son - that's pretty cool. And so is the song. Because George Harrison was cool.
8/10

Big Boi & Dre Present... Outkast - Outkast
This is a compilation of pre-Hey Ya! Outkast. I must have picked it up cheap at the time, because I really didn't know much of Outkast. In fact, I think I may have disliked them. I certainly could not stand The Whole World - terrible song. B.O.B. however is all kinds of cool. Otherwise... still not that impressed.
Highlights: So Fresh So Clean, Rosa Parks, B.O.B., Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
5.5/10

Big Calm - Morcheeba
This album is typical late 90s UK trip-hop folksy stuff. It's been so long since I last listened to it, that I had forgotten which song it was that caused me to get this album. I dig the instrumentals as well.
Highlights: Blindfold, Bullet Proof
7/10

Big Willie Style - Will Smith
Bah gawd this album is fun. Some of his lines are so corny, it is impossible to hate on it. And just makes me smile. Taking the same sample from a Tupac song and turning it into a fun party song is just the ultimate swerve. Songs about Jada and how he's going to get an Oscar are pretty funny now! And Jamie Foxx doing skits back when he was just the dude on In Living Color. Crazy world. Also, did Eminem steal lyrics from Left Eye on the title track?
Highlights: Gettin' Jiggy Wit It, Candy, Don't Say Nothin', Yes Yes Y'all, Big Willie Style
6.5/10

Bigger, Better, Faster, More! - 4 Non Blondes
Somewhere around the turn of the Century, I discovered how awesome Linda Perry can be. Her voice is so strong and has so much passion. This album is not the best example, as it is certainly very early 90s alt rock, but there are shining moments of greatness. I know most people are sick of What's Up, but it was a massive hit for a reason. It's probably the strongest song on the album, in all honesty. Linda Perry still rocks.
Highlights: What's Up, Dear Mr. President
6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 183

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2025 in 2025: Day 30

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