2025 in 2025: Day 102

Invincible - Michael Jackson

The production on this album is super badass and it is pretty much MJ at his most R&B. It was always going to be in the shadow of all his previous works, unless he had released another masterpiece. Which he didn't? Some great songs, though, which showed he still had it.

Highlights: Hearbreaker, Break of Dawn, 2000 Watts, Threatened, That scream of "Slash!" right before the guitar solo in Privacy

7.5/10

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

This is purely the b-side I Don't Want to Know - it is a Fleetwood Mac cover. I have Iris on Dizzy Up the Girl and have zero interest in ever listening to the edited single version.

8/10

Issues - KoЯn

Bagpipes. Weird interludes. Rattling bass. Bad singing and stupid lyrics. It is a classic KoЯn album! The last half of this is all jangly guitars in the verses.

Highlights: Falling Away From Me, Beg For Me, Somebody Someone, Let's Get This Party Started

5.5/10

It's Better to Travel - Swing Out Sister

This is purely that 80s smash hit Breakout. Not to be confused with the Frehley's Comet rocker. No Eric Carr on drums, here!

8/10

It's My Sin - Jan Hellriegel

90s West-Auckland rock. Some seriously giant reverb all over this. That chorus in The Way I Feel is tops.

Highlights: The Way I Feel, No Idea, It's My Sin

6/10

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

This is just the song. And what a song!

9/10

IT'z ICY - ITZY

ICY is the song of the Summer. Not just 2019 - I am talking EVERY Summer. It is fun having the remix of DALLA DALLA since that is the only ITZY single I do not have. Which is silly, because that is a great song.

Highlights: ICY, DALLA DALLA (DallasK Remix), WANT IT? (Imad Royal Remix)

7.5/10

IT'z ME - ITZY

The video for Wannabe is dope. But we are not here to talk about music videos. What am I? MTV?

Highlights: Wannabe, Nobody Like You, That's a No No, 24Hrs

7.5/10

iTunes Festival: London 2013 - Justin Timberlake

I think this was one of those free Xmas gifts from Apple or something. It is actually pretty decent - the band are tight and funky. The recording sounds like it was sourced from a video.

Highlights: Sexyback, Take Back the Night

7/10

IV - Ryan Adams

This is the follow up to III, which I am sure is quite logical. It is a bit more rocking. Kind of like the Rock N Roll album, but less messy and with better singing? That bridge in Icebreaker is perfection. I would rate the song Star Wars higher if it was not about Star Wars and how much he loves it. I knew there was a reason I think he is a clown!

Highlights: No, Numbers, Icebreaker, P.S., Kill the Lights

7/10

IV - Cypress Hill

Much like III, the music here is quite sparse and less powerful, while the lyrics and vocals are VERY angry. I wonder how much of it comes down to the mix or mastering. Sen Dog gets his nu-metal on with Lightning Strikes and it makes me want to track down his short-lived nu-metal band, because they were actually pretty decent. 

Highlights: Tequila Sunrise, Checkmate, Nothin' to Lose, Lightning Strikes

7/10

Ixnay on the Hombre - The Offspring

The first major label release and it is still pretty rad. Certainly a lot better than anything they put out afterwards! Pretty funny going from a group that promotes the use of marijuana, to a group that sings about drugs being bad. 

Highlights: Leave It Behind, Gone Away, Amazed, Change the World

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 876

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2025 in 2025: Day 101

INKYMAP - INKYMAP

Just saw their drummer has left the group. That is a real bummer, because these guys just get better and better and this album is a shining example of how consistently great their brand of punk rock is. Just great track after great track.

Highlights: 飛行機雲, Morning Glory, 93, D.W.C.

8.5/10

innocent arrogance - BiSH

The "final" BiSH single. After what was supposed to be the final single at the end of the whole 'BiSH iS OVER' thing. And this was only the final until they did BiSH THE NEXT. Which produced two singles. Crazy stuff. This is big epic stuff. Not perfect, but still decent.

8/10

An Innocent Man - Billy Joel

The influence of 50s rock'n roll and doo wop feature heavily on this album. There is even some 60s Elvis vibes to some of these tracks. And Joel's love for Christie Brinkley is all over this. Which is completely understandable.

Highlights: The Longest Time, Christie Lee, Keeping the Faith, Tell Her About It

7/10

Innuendo - Queen

The most perfect guitar tone, which even makes up for Freddie Mercury singing about his cat peeing on his bed. The Show Must Go On may well be the greatest and most appropriate album closer in rock history. The best until the very end.

Highlights: Innuendo, Headlong, These are the Days of Our Lives, Bijou, The Show Must Go On

8/10

Inside In/Inside Out - The Kooks

Standard mid-00s British indie rock fare. The use of acoustic guitar everywhere adds a nice flavour. Pretty decent stuff, really.

Highlights: Sofa Song, She Moves in Her Own Way, Naïve, Time Awaits

6.5/10

Inside Out - MC Hammer

Hammer is back with his MC title and a sound that is very 1995. Well, the first half is; it is classic hip-hop and it grooves hard. The second half of the album is gospel. This may well be his most consistent album! It lacks the real highs of his earlier work, but there is nothing bad and he mostly has the song lengths under control. Mostly.

Highlights: Keep On, Everything is Alright, Bustin Loose, A Brighter Day

7.5/10

Insomniac - Green Day

Like Dookie, I used to perform a number of these songs while busking. Which was silly, because this album is far less known that Dookie. But not caring about that is punk rock. And this album being less popular also makes it more punk by default. That is absolutely how this works.

Highlights: Stuart and the Ave, Brain Stew, Westbound Sign, 86

8/10

Insomniac - Enrique Iglesias

This is really the most non-interesting album Enrique has made. It is all just... there. And for far too long. And why does this version have a bunch of remixes of songs not from this album?

Highlights: Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song), Sweet Isabel, Dímelo, Not In Love (Armand Van Helden Club Mix - Feat. Kelis)

6.5/10

Interstate 46 EP - MONOEYES

Three songs. Gone has awesome use of half-time, which I am always a sucker for in punk rock. I needed some 細美さん - it has been too long!

Highlights: Interstate 46, Borderland, Gone

9/10

Into the Fire - Bryan Adams

I have lived with an error on this CD for the past 32 years. So I have never heard Victim of Love run through perfectly. Such a crime! Anyways, this is BA's best album. No big hits, just really classy songwriting all through, hitting on some personal topics like Canada's treatment of idigenous people and stuff like that. Also the lead guitar work from both BA and Keith Scott is tremendous; never overplaying anything, just really super tasteful. Oh, and killer tone.

Highlights:

9.5/10

Into the Gap - Thompson Twins

This is purely the excellent Hold Me Now. Could it be more of an 80s British new-wave pop song? Brilliant song.

10/10

Into the Sun - Sean Lennon

From a songwriting point of view, Sean Lennon is quite good. Probably a decent mix of his Father's penchant for pop sensibilities fused with his Mother's avant-garde approach to things. His voice is what lets it all down. That and everything on this album being completely unmemorable.

Highlights: [insert that gif of Vincent Vega looking around completely lost and high as a MF]

6/10

Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy

This was the big 'comeback' album, and it is certainly full of big beats and breaks like any good albums from The Prodigy should. It is like a high-energy non-stop barrage of dance beats!

Highlights: Invaders Must Die, Omen, Run With the Wolves, World's On Fire, Stand Up

8.5/10

Invaders Must Die: Lost Beats - The Prodigy

The bonus disc to Invaders Must Die. I could probably rename it to just Lost Beats if I really wanted to. It is also much less necessary than Invaders Must Die.

Highlights: Wild West 

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 864

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2025 in 2025: Day 101

In It For The Money - Supergrass

The album that actually got me interested in Supergrass. It kind of trails off towards the end, but it is otherwise some strong rocking numbers. I appreciate the way these guys can just play really tasty stuff and then completely let loose and unleash mayhem.

Highlights: Going Out, In It For the Money, Tonight, Sun Hits the Sky

7/10

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 - Jay-Z

How can Diddy sing so off the actual key and just keep this in the track? Early Hove is fine and all, just a bit gross for me at times. 

Highlights: The City is Mine, Streets is Watching, Friend or Foe '98, You Must Love Me

7/10

in my mind - The Tomboys

The usual low-budget punk rock'n roll from Kobe's favourite daughters. This one feels especially budget, thanks to the terrible guitar solos and awful singing on だいだい. Good times!

Highlights: GO MERRY GO!, 幸せであふれるように, シャララ

6.5/10

The In Sound From Way Out - Beastie Boys

This is basically a compilation of their instrumental jams on Check Your Head and Ill Communication, but with a couple of new tracks.

Highlights: Son of Neckbone, In 3's, Bobo on the Corner, Lighten Up

8/10

In the Garden - Eurythmics

So very unlike where Eurythmics headed after this; much more in the new-romantic post-punk vein, but less interesting. Not terrible, but there is nothing that holds any real emotional weight or grabs the listener the way their later releases do. This is another group's discography where I need to separate the bonus tracks to their own album and keep the original albums as they were.

Highlights: Belinda, Your Time Will Come, Le Sinestre

6.5/10

In the Name of Love [EP] - CL

CL is a goddess amongst us mere mortals. If this were an album, I would have given it album of the year honours for 2019. 

Highlights: +DONE161201+, +ONE AND ONLY180228+, +I QUIT180327+, +PARADOX171115+

9/10

In The Zone - Britney Spears

There is something about Britney trying to be all sexy that I just find absolutely hilarious. Also, her singing is all sorts of terrible it makes me laugh when her fans online start all sorts of nonsense about she can sing like Christina Aguilera or whatnot. Anyways, the production on this album is a bit dated and the songs do not hold up well.

Highlights: Toxic, (I Got That) Boom Boom, The Hook Up, Everytime

6/10

Incesticide - Nirvana

I do not know if I have listened to this album since I was 16. I used to get confused by the tracklisting on side two all the time. Or maybe that was Bleach - that was missing a song that was listed. Fun fact: the first song I ever performed like in any capacity was from this album! I loved Nirvana. Kids are stupid.

Highlights: Aneurysm, Dive, Been a Son, Big Long Now

7/10

Indigo Nights - Prince

Live CD that came with the book. I think it was cobbled together from all his after-show performances. Because Prince was a madman. I, personally, find this to be super funky and an all-round great time. I read a lot of Prince fans online were super unhappy with this release, but Shizzzz I ain't afraid of you mofos! On the one!

Highlights: Alphabet St, Indigo Nights, Baby Love, 3121

8/10

Infinity - Journey

When Journey rock, they can really rock. Possibly the most enjoyable radio-rock band of the 70s and 80s that I did not listen to in the 70s or 80s.

Highlights: Wheel in the Sky, Lights, Feeling That Way, Anytime

7/10

Infinity on High - Fall Out Boy

Jay-Z with the most random and pointless cameo - he doesn't even rap, just does the musical equivalent of waving hello. I actually thought the censored version of This Ain't a Scene, It's An Arms Race was more interesting, thanks to the way it was censored.

Highlights: The Take Over The Break's Over, Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?, The (After) Life of the Party, G.I.N.A.S.F.S.

7.5/10

The Information - Beck

BECK: Congratulations, friend.

BENDER: Why, 'cause I can make annoying noises?

BECK: Exactly. I use those all the time in my music.

Highlights: Think I'm in Love, Nausea, Inside Out

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 850

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2025 in 2025: Day 100

If I Can Dream EP - Elvis Presley

This is take 1. I had read it was pretty awesome, and they were right. Apart from some messing up by the guitarist, Elvis' vocal delivery is actually better in some parts. Awesome song. And if I had waited, I would have had this with my 50th Anniversary collection of the '68 Comeback Special. One day I might import that last CD in to my library...

10/10

If I Die Tomorrow - Mötley Crüe

If I remember correctly, this was the first reunion single. It is nowhere near as good as anything on Saints of Los Angeles.

6/10

If Not Now, Then When... ? - The Edge of Victory

Oh, hey, look - it is me! Yes, I have my music in my iTunes library. Because why would I make music that I do not want to listen to? I would, however, like to have better vocals on this darn thing. And less loser vibes. But I dig my bass work on this whole thing and my guitar tone was perfection.

Highlights: To, Not, Be, Time, Then

7.5/10

III - Ryan Adams

Technically, this is Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, but it was only ever credited to DRA. Because of ego, probably? Anyways, this is pretty much just 90s indie college rock stylings. And I quite enjoy it. Wasteland may well be his best non-alt country songs ever. 

Highlights: Wasteland, Stop Playing With My Heart, Users

7/10

III: Temples of Boom - Cypress Hill

Such a total change of pace from their first two albums; much more chilled, musically, but lyrically they are a lot angrier. Especially when dissing Ice Cube. Dude got murderised. 

Highlights: Let It Rain, Make a Move, Throw Your Set in the Air, Everybody Must Get Stoned

7/10

Ill Communication - Beastie Boys

Killer rap songs, funky samples, groovy instrumentals, hardcore punk nonsense. This album has it all. Even awesome cameos and a little bit of the Biz.

Highlights: Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, The Scoop

8.5/10

Ill Communication (2009 Remastered Edition) - Beastie Boys

And, of course, this is the bonus disc. The remixes are cool and work because the lyrics are so good you can really focus on them, and the hardcore stuff is just the business. This why these guys were the best.

Highlights: Root Down [Free Zone Mix], Resolution Time, Heart Attack Man [Live], Mullet Head

7/10

Imagine - John Lennon

Probably Lennon's most radio-friendly solo release. And forcing that is why it is not as great as his other solo albums. Songs about peace and love and how much Paul McCartney can get these hands or something. Harrison's guitar playing is very subtle.

Highlights: Oh Yoko!, Imagine, Crippled Inside, Give Me Some Truth

7.5/10

" Albums" listened to so far: 838

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2025 in 2025: Day 99

I Get Wet - Andrew W.K.
I challenge anyone to deny the absolute party that these songs are. Massive metal guitars with piano against dance beats and silly lyrics being screamed/shouted. It is the American answer to Japanese Idol music. And genuinely ahead of its time.
Highlights: She Is Beautiful, It's Time to Party, Fun Night, I Get Wet

7/10

I Got Next - KRS-One

This is purely the absolutely brilliant Step Into a World (Rapture's Delight) and that is absolutely embarrassing. In my defence nah forget that noise. I need to rectify this IMMEDIATELY.

10/10

I Love Rock N' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

This album is so consistent; it kicks off with an awesome song and then just rocks hard the whole way through. And at a VERY enjoyable level. Until the end, with an incredibly strange choice of a cover song in Little Drummer Boy. Seriously. Even the bonus tracks are much better than that.

Highlights: I Love Rock N' Roll, You're Too Possessive, Oh Woe Is Me, Victim of Circumstance

8/10

I Love the Nightlife - Alicia Bridges

This may be my first listen to this album? The remix version of I Love the Nightlife is so fantastic... yet the original version is much less disco. In fact, this whole album is. And Bridges sings like this is an audition for Cabaret. Insert Kevin Sorbo gif here...

Highlights: I Love The Nightlife (Disco'Round)

5/10

I Megaphone - Imogen Heap

Imogen Heap at her most alternative, I guess you could say. A bit more alt rock in there, for sure. And a whole bunch of mad breakdowns. A fair bit of madness just in general. Certainly much darker in parts. The highs are higher than she has ever done since.

Highlights: Come Here Boy, Angry Angel, Sweet Religion, Oh Me Oh My

7/10

I Should Coco - Supergrass

Is this the best album of the whole 'Britpop' era? Or is it in 2nd place to In It For the Money - Supergrass' 2nd album? Either way, Supergrass were hugely underappreciated at the time and this album holds up extremely well. I love that changeup in I'd Like to Know. It is a veritable party!

Highlights: Caught By the Fuzz, Alright, I'd Like to Know, Time

7.5/10

I Want It All - Warren G

Classic G-Funk grooves. Warren G is highly underrated. As is Mack 10. This collection is a mess; it is not the full album and even has a song that is NOT actually part of the album. I will sort that one day.

Highlights: I Want It All, Smokin' Me Out

8/10

I Want You - Marvin Gaye

Bah gawd this is Mr. Gaye's grooviest sexiest jam it would make Prince blush. I could live without all the sex noises, though. Honestly, they should remix this album and remove it all so I can crank this album on a sunny day without the neighbours thinking I am watching porn.

Highlights: Come Live With Me My Angel, I Wanna Be Where You Are, Soon I'll Be Loving You Again, After the Dance

7.5/10

I Want You (Deluxe Edition) - Marvin Gaye

This is the bonus disc to the deluxe edition. Duh. Mostly just as groovy, but a bit less polished and a lot less sex noises!

Highlights: I Wanna Be Where You Are [Alternate Version], You Are the Way You Are [Instrumental], Is Anybody Thinking About Their Living?, I Want You (Jam)

7.5/10

I Want You Back - Secret

Welcome to today's chapter in Random K-Pop Song In My iTunes Library. These girls are just 2NE1-lite.

7/10

I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door - Eddie Hodges

Another classic song. I likely have this because I made someone learn it.

7/10

I'm Still Here - Johnny Rzeznik

Could easily pretend this is Goo Goo Dolls. Darn great song.

10/10

Ice Cream Castle - The Time

LOGMAN continues to be an embarrassment by only having Jungle Love. How and Why?!?

8/10

Ice TV: The Original Soundtrack Ablum - Various Artists

No, that is not a typo. They were being quirky! Ice TV was one of those youth focused TV shows; music and interviews and silly stuff. It was great. Then it got rebranded as Ice As and died a miserable death. This is basically a collection of songs that were popular at the time, including some indie New Zealand songs. I have some of these elsewhere, but others I would never have in a million years. Fun little time capsule or something. 

Highlights: Going Out - Supergrass, Get Down On It - The Chemical Brothers, Jesus I Was Evil - Darcy Clay, Crying Shame - HLAH

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 830

2025 in 2025: Day 98

I is for I Still Have a Long Way to Go...

I - ichika
I recall that first EP being very minimalist, whereas this is pretty much fully realised stuff with vocals and backing. Still that guitar virtuoso stuff, though.
Highlights: Good Enough, a town in a dream, I
7/10

I Am Not a Doctor - Moloko
This is purely the song Sing It Back. I like it a lot. One day I will hear some more Moloko.
8/10

I Am Sam: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture - Various Artists
I really should check out the rest of this album one day - it is a good movie and the soundtrack is purely covers of songs by The Beatles - but for now all I have is Heather Nova performing We Can Work It Out. Nicely done.
8/10

I am... - Ayumi Hamasaki
One of the first Ayu albums I ever heard, and like A BEST I scored it for $1 at the opshop. And unlike A BEST, I actually liked this one when I first listened to it! I probably love it even more now; there is so much energy and emotion just pouring through every song. It is one of those albums where I need an option for 6 or 7 stars for some of the songs. And bah gawd that guitar solo in Daybreak is just the business.
Highlights: I am..., evolution, Naturally, Daybreak, M, Endless sorrow ～gone with the wind ver.～
9/10

I Awake - Sarah Blasko
This is a bit more of Blasko vs the orchestra, compared to her earlier works. And, for the most part, it really works. I also really like her voice on this album. An improvement over As Day Follows Night, to be sure!
Highlights: God-Fearing, Fool, Cast the Net, Not Yet
7.5/10

I Be... - Ivy
Another random K-pop song in my collection. This is Touch Me. That album title is so close to Ayu's - and she has a song called Ivy, too! Probably says Touch Me in a song, as well. 
7/10

I Believe: The Gospel Masters - Elvis Presley
In case I have not made this clear enough, Elvis singing gospel songs is where he was at his best and it is VERY enjoyable to listen to. Sure, I prefer the uptempo stuff to the slower ones, but we are talking 4 discs of goodness right here. I need to do a back-to-back comparison between the songs that are found both here and on the Nashville sets, because I am not sure I need a million versions of everything. I strangely find some of the home recordings and rehearsal versions more fun that the studio tracks - Elvis is clearly more relaxed and just having fun singing songs he loves.
Highlights: Amazing Grace, Seeing is Believing, Bosom of Abraham, I John, If That Isn't Love, If I Can Dream, How Great Thou Art [Live]
8/10

I Do Not Feel Like Being Good [Single] - Ryan Adams
Wonderfully stark acoustic numbers. How Much Light is genuinely beautiful.
Highlights: How Much Light, In the Dark
8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 816

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2025 in 2025: Day 97

hours... - David Bowie

This album gets a bad rap. Or at least it used to? But the 'heavier' songs are definitely worth the price of admission.

Highlights: The Pretty Things are Going to Hell, Something in the Air, Survive, New Angels of Promise

7/10

hours... [Bonus Disc] - David Bowie

This disc is so weirdly constructed; it is great having all the different versions (I especially needed all three versions of The Pretty Things are Going to Hell from Stigmata, so thanks for that!), but they are all sequenced by song. So having four versions of Seven back to back that progressively get worse was certainly a choice. 

Highlights: The Pretty Things are Going to Hell [Edit], Seven [Marius De Vries Mix], New Angels of Promise [Omikron: The Nomad Soul Version], The Dreamers [Omikron: The Nomad Soul Longer Version]

6/10

Hozier - Hozier

This was not as bad as I was expecting it to be. I am fairly certain this dude just has one melody and he has put it to different musical backgrounds. It is kind of like a male Florence + the Machine.

Highlights: Take Me to Church, Jackie and Wilson

6/10

Human Clay - Creed

Who needs some generic jock-rock? That riff on What If is pretty darn great. They are like the Nirvana of radio rock; jangly clean guitars on the verses and then big distortion in the chorus. With the occasional triumphant bridge.

Highlights: What If, Faceless Man, Higher, Inside Us All

6.5/10

Hungry for Stink - L7

And now for some dirty budget punk rock. And I am happy for it. They are almost not as angry on this album. Except for Fuel My Fire, which is all sorts of awesome. The rest ticks along nicely.

Highlights: Fuel My Fire, The Bomb, Riding with a Movie Star

6.5/10

Hunting High and Low - a-ha

Could this day be any more diverse? While I do not find the whole thing all that impressive, and it certainly sounds dated in parts, the singles from this album are absolutely perfect.

Highlights: Take On Me, The Sun Always Shines on T.V.

6.5/10

The Hustle - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony

Like most of my random disco collection, this is purely the one song. And it is a groove. Get down with your bad self!

10/10

Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park

Is this the best album I have listened to today? I always ALWAYS forget how good this album is until I listen to it. Have I mentioned I saw them live on tour for this album? Right before they got big; small venue, cost was very little, and afterwards they hung around signing autographs and just generally being cool guys. Made me a fan.

Highlights: Papercut ,In the End, Forgotten, A Place For My Head

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 808

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2025 in 2025: Day 96

Home Tapes - John Lennon

Outtakes and home recordings and demos. The outtakes are very similar to the final released tracks - except God here is just a ripper of an acoustic number. I Found Out has some pretty different vocal layers going on.

Highlights: God [Studio Outtake], Mother [Studio Outtake], Nobody Told Me [Home Recording]

6.5/10

Homework - Daft Punk

I like Daft Punk as much as anyone, but for the most part this album really does sound like the most typical European 90s techno-funk. It did not grab me in 1997 and it does not do much for me now. So maybe I do not like Daft Punk as much as anyone? That kick in Da Funk is all sorts of cowabunga.

Highlights: Da Funk, Rollin' & Scratchin', High Fidelity, Indo Silvery Club, Alive

6.5/10

HONEY - SCANDAL

Fun fact: this album was my introduction to SCANDAL. I saw pictures of Haruna's signature Telecaster and it looked so good I figured I should check out the artist related to it. Now I really want Mami's 'Omochi' Stratocaster. Not to be outdone, Tomomi's bass tone on this album is fire. If they do a third Fender collaboration, I hope they give her an awesome signature bass and then I would complete the lineup!

Highlights: Over, 窓を開けたら, 恋するユニバース, ふたり

8.5/10

Honeymoon - Lana Del Rey

I am going to write this before even making it through the first song: this album is long and boring. I will update at the end if listening to this full album again changes my mind. Nope; an hour later I found one very good song amongst a sea of nothingness.

Highlights: The Blackest Day

5/10

Honky Chateau - Elton John

I am often embarrassed at how much my Elton John collection is lacking. Well, the CD section of it; my vinyl section is pretty solid. Like this album; it is nothing special, but is pretty solid. What is Bernie Taupin's obsession with Americana?!?

Highlights: Susie (Dramas), Rocket Man, Mellow, I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself

7.5/10

Hooray for Boobies - The Bloodhound Gang

This is purely the song Mope, because I generally do not care for this band. But they managed to combine a whole bunch of 80s pop samples and this is the best Metallica have ever sounded.

8/10

Hopes and Fears - Keane

Someone please tell Apple what punk music is - because Keane sure ain't it. It is all fine and dandy, but some of these songs are sure repetitive. 

Highlights: Somewhere Only We Know, Bend and Break, Everybody's Changing, Bedshaped

6.5/10

Hot Fuss - The Killers

This was my album of the year in 2004. I still consider it one of the most awesome debut albums ever. And Jenny Was a Friend of Mine is the most awesome opener. Brandon Flowers had such a great voice on this album - screamed at just right the amount for me - and it just got worse with each subsequent album. But boy oh boy was this a great reminder that they did once live up to their name.

Highlights: Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I've Done, Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll, Believe Me Natalie

9/10

Hot in the Shade - Kiss

I'm running out of nonsense to say, so just read my Kissathon post about this one. I somewhat agree with it today...

Highlights: Hide Your Heart, Forever, Silver Spoon, Little Caesar

7/10

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two - Beastie Boys

I would like to hear the real part two one day, but obviously that will never happen and this will forever stand as the last release the Beastie Boys ever do. At least it was a banger of an album to go out on. Just so much badass rhymes over creative beats and then one old school hardcore punk jam. 

Highlights: Too Many Rappers, Lee Majors Come Again, The Lisa Lisa/Full Force Routine, Ok

8/10

Hot Space - Queen

The anomaly in the Queen discography. The live versions are definitely better, but it is not nearly as bad as some people would have you believe - there is still some charm to some of these songs. And good grooves.

Highlights: Dancer, Under Pressure, Staying Power, Action This Day

7/10

Hotel Paper - Michelle Branch

This is just the single Breathe. I seem to recall there being another big single from this album. I really should check out the whole thing one day.

10/10

Hotter Than Hell - Kiss

This album still sounds as terrible as ever. One day I am going to get the 2014 iTunes version, because it does sound marginally better. My how I wish I had already got that for this listen. Still surprised we did not get a massive super deluxe banana edition of this and first album for the 50th anniversaries.

Highlights: Got to Choose, Parasite, Hotter Than Hell, All the Way, Comin' Home

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 800

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2025 in 2025: Day 95

The Hit List - Joan Jett

A full on album of cover songs and for once she skipped over doing anything by The Runaways. Or herself. It is kind of fun hearing some of these rough as rock and punk songs now sound so big and polished. That baritone saxamophone in Dirty Deeds and Pretty Vacant makes the sound so much deeper. Also, Joan Jett in the Dirty Deeds video (and this album cover) with all her white leather was the hottest ever to 10 year-old LOGMAN.

Highlights: Dirty Deeds, Pretty Vacant, Celluloid Heroes, Love Stinks

8/10

HITnRUN Phase One - Prince

This has so much electronic-ness and sampling of previous Prince songs, this whole things feels a lot like a remix album. Maybe a remix album would have been more interesting?

Highlights: Million $ Show, Shut This Down

6/10

HITnRUN Phase Two - Prince

This is more in the funky rock'n roll vein that Prince schools fools in, just a little lighter in energy. I think this was the last album he released in his lifetime; it was given out free with attending his Piano & Microphone tour. Which I did. Even when cruising on jams like these, Prince was the best.

Highlights: Baltimore, Xtraloveable, Groovy Potential, Big City

7/10

Hits Anthology - Jimmy Barnes

This is just the 3 singles not on other Jimmy Barnes albums and then the whole bonus disc, which is a mix of rarities and other mixes. The rarities are decent.

Highlights: Good Times, (Simply) The Best, Lover Lover, Bad News

7/10

...Hits the Fans - The Shit

The sort of fun you expect from The Shit. Riot in the streets! Did you know that committing suicide results in you dying? Thought provoking.

Highlights: Nuclear War, Bob's Garage, Stop Committing Suicide, 1-800-WWW.COM

7/10

Hold Connection - Sleepwalk Skeleton

Local J-Rock band put together an independent album and LOGMAN is such a great supportive person that he was happy to purchase a copy. Actually pretty decent songs. I have seen them live with a few different lineups now, and I definitely think having a keyboardist is the right fit for their sound. Although they may have since replaced that with a super-shredder guitarist...

Highlights: Moon, Euphoria, We Are Here [Acoustic Version]

7/10

Holding onto Strings Better Left to Fray - Seether

How did I end up with all this random Seether in my library? Like, I actually do not recall ever hearing of them as a band. It is your standard heavy rock/light metal. It is not the worst thing in the world, just super generic rock music probably used as entrance music for some bland WWE "superstar". And why on Earth is this album so long?

Highlights: Whatever song a luchador feels is suitable as entrance music in Arena Nauculpan

5/10

Holla Dayz Inn - DJ Reggie

Oh dear Prime, who did I upset today? How does watching Armageddon get you in the mood to watch The Lord of the Rings?!? I'm sure passive aggressive text messaging is not all he would like to show Mariah Carey... 

Highlights: I would also like Mariah Carey to give me a call

5/10

Holy Shit! - The Shit

Watch your fingers when you go to bible school! Imagine being classmates with King Kong, Tim Robbins AND Jimmy Hackeysack - I would be learning so much about the bible in that class. Lyrically, this is possibly the best album Ryan Adams ever made.

Highlights: Fuckin' A God, Bible School Dropout, Baptized, King Kong

7/10

Holy Smoke - Gin Wigmore

This is purely the song Oh My. It is actually pretty good, despite her terrible voice, so I will credit all points to The Cardinals. RIP Neil Casal.

8/10

Home (Deluxe Edition) - Rudimental

Another album I have no idea how or why it is in my iTunes library. UK drum and bass. Popular(ish) UK singers over the beats singing about love and whatnot. That is basically all you need to know.

Highlights: Feel the Love, Right Here, Hide, Free, Alien Bashment

6.5/10

Home Invasion - Ice-T

Before becoming an actor, Ice-T was a very angry man who liked to say rude things and swear a lot. Actually, that may still be true to this day. And on this album, EVERYONE is getting it; the police, the government, other record labels, his record label, your parents... but, he does express a lot of love for other races. Ice-T wants to the bring the world together and shut down the man! 

Highlights: It's On, Home Invasion, Race War, Depths of Hell

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 787

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2025 in 2025: Day 94

Hello Nasty - Beastie Boys

As much as I love Beastie Boys and their off-centre brand of music, this album is a bit long. However, it does start off with just killer hip-hop jam after hip-hop jam and it works so well. I have the remastered version so need to go back to my original CD and get the original version of The Grasshopper Unit, because the sample in the chorus is sorely missed here. 

Highlights: The Move, Just a Test, Intergalactic, The Grasshopper Unit (Keep Movin'), The Negotiation Limerick File

8/10

Hello Nasty (2009 Remastered Edition) - Beastie Boys

And this here is the bonus disc. The instrumentals are pretty rad, as are some of the remixes. I may be one of the few people that disagrees with the Beastie Boys themselves and still prefers the original version of Body Movin' to the Fatboy Slim remix (that is also pretty cool, though). 

Highlights: Dirty Dog, Switched On, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Piano Jam

7/10

HELLO WORLD - SCANDAL

This is a seriously solid album. Like, every song is the same amount of enjoyable pop punk fun. おやすみ is bordering on a taste of what is to come from them - slightly more adventurous. But yeah, just a great album.

Highlights: おやすみ, Place of life, Departure, Your song

8/10

Help! - The Beatles

This is The Beatles firing on all cylinders; Lennon writing some of the best pop songs of his life, Harrison finding his feet writing good songs, and McMarketing doing his thing, I guess. That cowbell in the chorus of I Need You is inspired and the volume pedal gives a great effect. Top stuff all around.

Highlights: Help!, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, I Need You, Ticket to Ride, I've Just Seen a Face

9/10

Hexagonal - Lessang

Another random Korean hip-hop track in my collection - this one called 헤어지지 못하는 여자, 떠나가지 못하는 남자 (The Woman Who Can't Break Up, The Man Who Can't Leave). It is decidedly groovy. According to wikipedia, Lessang were successful despite being unattractive. As opposed to LOGMAN, who is unsuccessful despite being unattractive...

8/10

High Havoc - Corduroy

My favourite cool cats with their fake 60s spy thriller soundtrack. And honestly, it works on every level. Back in the day, I thought it would have been a great idea to actually complete the circle and write a heist movie with this album as the inspiration. But I think I only got as far as calling the movie High Havoc. Honestly, I would like to know which line they are wanting to catch at 10:28 from Shibuya. It may well be outdated information, so they are possibly going to confuse some tourists from the UK.

Highlights: High Havoc, London England, The Corduroy Orgasm Club, Something in My Eye, Very Yeah

9/10

High Times: Singles 1992-2006 - Jamiroquai

Let's keep the funk rolling! I had to buy this album when on a super discount so I could get these two new songs. Such is my completist attitude. Well worth it, because they are both super funky and super cool.

Highlights: Runaway, Radio

9/10

Hillbilly Joel - The Shit

The greatest punk band go country and still manage to keep almost every song under a minute, while also retaining the whistles and roosters crowing. Every song is about drinking and being drunk. Party with The Shit!

Highlights: Passed Out In AA - FUCK, Where's the Party?, Drunk and in Jail for Arson, Dear Burger King

7/10

Hip-Hop Lives - KRS-One & Marley Marl

The Teacher teaming up with an old rival to show the young rappers how it is done. Surprisingly solid album; KRS never stops evolving and delivers a pretty firm lyrical beatdown on the world. This album deserves way more love.

Highlights: I Was There, Rising to the Top, Kill a Rapper, This Is What It Is

8/10

Hip-Hop Breaker - DJ Reggie

I have had a fantastic day so far and then DJ Reggie comes along and just brings the whole day down. Well, except for his rapping about Robert Smith stealing someone's lipstick and Tina Turner being the "President of Party Town". Stepping on broken TV screens does not sound like a fun dance. Teen Wolf could have been a good song if he had kept the whole thing from being super loud and distorted. I need a break.

Highlights: Matlock Rock, TV Shows - The Movie

5/10

HIStory - Michael Jackson

MJ was clearly pretty angry on this album; a lot of frustration and sadness being vented about the way people and the environment are being treated. And that District Attorney that was out to get him - absolutely no one is buying you are not saying Tom Sneddon in the chorus, Michael. And we def lose points for having R. Kelly on here (very much removing this song after today). But there is so much other greatness going on that I will easily forgive MJ for that one. HIStory is still the most confusing song; the verses are so badass, but then that chorus is all glorious orchestration and choir of triumph. 

Highlights: They Don't Care About Us, Stranger in Moscow, Earth Song, 2 Bad, D.S.

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 775

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2025 in 2025: Day 93

Heartbreak a Stranger - Ryan Adams

This would appear to be a live single (two songs) and I have zero recollection of it being released, but then it was during a time when DRA was releasing a single every other week. And my memory is pretty hazy at the best of times.

Highlights: Black Sheets of Rain

7/10

Heartbreaker - Ryan Adams

Bah gawd what a rollicking way to kickstart an album. Especially when 90% of what comes after is sad and mopey. I know people (including DRA) act like Come Pick Me is like is crown jewel or whatever, but I would boldly declare Oh My Sweet Caroline to be the peak of his work here. The chord strikes coming out of the solo are beautiful. Bonus points to the banjo in Come Pick Me Up, though.

Highlights: To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high), Oh My Sweet Caroline, Come Pick Me Up, Call Me on Your Way Back Home

7/10

Heartbreaker Deluxe - Ryan Adams

Guess it is a Ryan Adams and Heartbreak kind of morning? A lot of this is outtakes - some of which ended up being released further down the line. Did he ever do a proper studio take of Petal in a Rainstorm? Because the take on here is VERY good. 

Highlights: Petal in a Rainstorm, When the Rope Gets Tight, Locked Away (Demo), To Be Young (Demo)

7/10

Heartland - Real Life

This is purely Send Me an Angel. That opening synth is killer when the bass kicks in. iTunes says it is actually "Send Me an Angel '89 [Dance Mix]". Yet the year is labelled as 1983. I need some tea.

8/10

Heat - Jimmy Barnes

The bridge on Sweat it Out is very great. When I was a teen and this came out, I thought Stand Up sounded very much like Faith No More. As an adult I can freely state that kids are stupid. 

Highlights: I'd Rather Be Blind, Stand Up, Something's Got a Hold, A Little Bit of Love

7/10

Heathen - David Bowie

There was a period where every Bowie album was met with 'Bowie is back to his brilliant best' and drew comparisons to his work in the 70s. And always it was just forgotten until the next album came along. I liked some of these even more when performed live.

Highlights: Afraid, I've Been Waiting For You, 5:15 The Angels Have Gone, Heathen (The Rays)

6/10

Heathen [Bonus Disc] - David Bowie

Like it says on the box! A couple of remixes, a couple of outtakes. The outtakes are decent?

Highlights: Conversation Piece, Panic in Detroit

6/10

Heathen Chemistry - Oasis

Gosh I feel like I have written about this before... A real mixed bag; some killer classic-style Oasis songs and some really generic radio rock stuff. Liam's voice is awesome. In fact, these guys have had the same thing as Bowie since this album; it - and every one since - was labelled as being their best album since whenever they were at the peak of their popularity. Music press need to get their brains together.

Highlights: The Hindu Times, Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Little By Little, Force of Nature

7.5/10

Heave on Earth - Belinda Carlisle

Let's talk about Belinda Carlisle's voice, shall we? She is certainly not actually that great of a singer, however there is something in her tone and delivery that absolutely works. And these songs are pretty much just great. Like a slightly rocked up Wilson Phillips, with less amazing harmonies.

Highlights: Heaven is a Place on Earth, I Feel Free, I Get Weak, Love Never Dies...

8/10

Helicopter Soup - Ryan Adams

I have moved a few random DRA songs that had no home to this album. Look Who Got a Website definitely belongs on an album called Helicopter Soup. I would really like to have heard a final version of So Lost. 

Highlights: Look Who Got a Website (Dot Com Motherfucker), So Lost [Dirty Power Demo], So Lost

6.5/10

Hell in a Handbasket - Meat Loaf

It almost sounds like Andrew W.K. and his band are backing Meat Loaf here. And wowsers he sounds old. And Chuck D turning up here is certainly random - but a pleasant surprise. Mostly harmless big-sounding rock stuff.

Highlights: Mad Mad World/The Good God Is A Woman And She Don't Like Ugly [Feat. Chuck D], Stand In The Storm [Feat. Lil Jon, John Rich & Mark McGrath]

6/10

Hello - Poe

There is so much going on with this album; all sorts of different genres and styles and it was probably considered very alternative at the time. The trip-hop wannabe jazz songs must have really confused the alt rock kids who were buying this for songs like Trigger Happy Jack. Speaking from experience...

Highlights: Trigger Happy Jack (Drive By A Go-Go), Choking The Cherry, Beautiful Girl, Fly Away

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 764

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2025 in 2025: Day 92

He Got Game - Public Enemy

Would you believe this is the only full Public Enemy album I have ever actually listened to? I am going to correct that in 2026. This album goes hard, but does also feel very 1998 to me. The samples are great and Chuck D's lyrics are on point!

Highlights: Resurrection, He Got Game, Shake Your Booty, What You Need is Jesus, Go Cat Go

8/10

The Head on the Door - The Cure

This is pretty much the best 80s pop album by The Cure - a stunning combination of dark numbers and upbeat pop danciness. And it is all quick and to the point. No messing around here. That opening riff in Push is the absolute stuff.

Highlights: In Between Days, Push, Close to Me, Sinking

8/10

Heart and Soul - Joy Division

This is, of course, the full 4-disc collection. Which means I am sitting here listening to a full six hours of Joy Division. And, you know, it is great. Ian Curtis was a mad man. Quite literally. I have to say, I think disc 2 is my favourite of all this; the Closer album is solid and Love Will Tear Us Apart is genuinely their greatest track. When I made my terrible punk EP, it is crazy how much I was subconsciously influenced by these guys in part. And then the whole An Ideal for Living EP is so completely different to everything else - just full on punk awesomeness. Yeah, I am taking it back - this whole disc 3 is head-drillingly awesome. What I really enjoyed going through all this is hearing those little bits of the New Order sound coming through every so often. The live disc does not do much for me, however.

Highlights: She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Warsaw, These Days, No Love Lost, Insight

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 752

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2025 in 2025: Day 91

HALFTIME REPORT

Notice I say "time"? Here we are, halfway through 2025 and I have only just finished the "G" albums and am not even 2/5 through everything. In fact, when I break it down by song, I have still listened to much less than half. Apparently I need to listen to 215 albums per month to finish this before the end of the year. Let us see if LOGMAN can pull it together in the next 6 months and make more effort here, but it is hard when I choose to spend my working hours watching WCW instead of listening to music and, you know... working...

Hakkin No Yoake - Momoiro Clover Z

This is purely the song Z No Chikai. It bothers me to no end that these titles are all in romaji, but that is the fault of iTunes being racist or something. This song rules.

10/10

Halcyon (International Version) - Ellie Goulding

This is very likely the first time I have ever listened to this album. I wasn't missing much. Very typical English pop singer that can barely sing and hides behind good production on average songs. It is just Florence + The Machine - Powerful Singing.

Highlights: I Need Your Love, My Blood, Halcyon, Lights

6/10

Halfway Between the Gutter and Stars - Fat Boy Slim

This is purely Weapon of Choice. I am not sure why, because I am sure I did have this full album at one point. Or maybe I am confused? Fun song.

8/10

Hands All Over - Maroon 5

These dudes get a lot of stick, but I genuinely enjoy most of their music and an album like this is fairly harmless; every second song is really good and then every other song is fine, so it is a decent offering of the Maroon 5 brand of pop rock. I am not sure they are the band to be covering Queen, but it was not offensive or anything.

Highlights: Misery, Stutter, Never Gonna Leave This Bed, Just a Feeling

7/10

Hands of Gravity- the HIATUS

This album is probably the most straight-forward/less adventurous from the HIATUS. It does, however, end with the greatest song they ever recorded. Possibly a top five song from 細美さん, even. The drumming and piano really lift it to the next level.

Highlights: Sunburn, Geranium, Drifting Story, Radio

7/10

Happiness? - Roger Taylor

So this must have been Mr. Taylor's first post-Queen album? Why is he pronouncing Nazi like he is American? I find it strangely off-putting. But dude is here singing about people being oppressed in Ukraine like he is some sort of prophet. Or the world has just been a terrible place for a long time. Next thing he will be out there saying Free Palestine or something.

Highlights: Revelations, Touch the Sky, Old Friends

6/10

Happiness... Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch - Our Lady Peace

I have zero idea how someone could listen to this album and think Mike Turner needs to be replaced by someone that is more suited to something like Foo Fighters. Dude had character. So did Raine's voice - his falsetto on Blister is mad. And bah gawd Jeremy Taggart was a beast on the drums - dude had mad feel and added so much power to their songs. In case you missed it, this album fucking OWNS. A little more refined than Clumsy with twice the emotion.

Highlights: One Man Army, Potato Girl, Is Anybody Home?, Waited, Lying Awake, Stealing Babies

9/10

Happy Pills - Candlebox

This album was a staple in my 'jam along' playlist back in like 1998 to 2001. I wonder if I could still play these tracks? I probably won't be rating it as highly now as I would have back then, but it sure is still very good. I am reminded of their interview to promote this album, calling it "good quality shit, right here".

Highlights: It's Alright, A Stone's Throw Away, Sometimes, Step Back

7.5/10

A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles

After a whole bunch of powerful late 90s rock, it is nice to get a smile with one of a great classic rock'n roll album. Which is just a regular day in the office for The Beatles. Lennon's voice on this one is super cool. I can see why it influenced Cobain so much. 

Highlights: A Hard Day's Night, Any Time At All, Can't Buy Me Love, I'll Cry Instead, You Can't Do That

7/10

Hatsukoi - 宇多田 ヒカル

So many cool time signatures and different rhythms and beats going on in here. Whoever produced this album deserves a high five and a bunch of grammys if you feel so inclined, because it is just masterful. Pretty sure the backing vocals are the blueprint for how you want them to sound.

Highlights: あなた, パクチーの唄, 夕凪, 嫉妬されるべき人生

7/10

Haunted - Poe

What Poe lacks in singing ability she certainly makes up for with songwriting, because this album is a completely different beast to her debut (which also is not far away) and lyrically it is just top-tier business. And the tape excerpts between songs add a different dimension to the whole thing. And honestly that last song is just heartbreaking.

Highlights: Haunted, Control, Walk the Walk, Could've Gone Mad, Wild

8/10

Have a Nice Day - Bon Jovi

I always felt this was kind of modern-sounding for Bon Jovi at the time. And after the dour attitude on Bounce, it is all mostly upbeat and good vibes and a bit more what fans like me wanted from them. It rocks. It is fun. But where the hell was Sambora?!?!

Highlights: Welcome to Wherever You Are, Bells of Freedom, Have a Nice Day, Novocaine

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 749

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2025 in 2025: Day 90

The Guest - Phantom Planet

It is interesting to me that Jason Schwartzman comes across as a mostly pretentious douche in all those Wes Anderson movies, yet he can make some really bland pop rock like this. Then again, he did co-write the two awesome songs on the album AND he was very good in Scott Pilgrim vs The World. So maybe it is just the Wes Anderson thing? He should stop starring in those movies and I would probably think better of him. But that could apply to anyone!

Highlights: California, Lonely Day, Always on My Mind [London Version], All Over Again

6.5/10

Guilty - Barbra Streisand

Babs goes disco! But not really. The King of The 70s, Barry Gibb, could make an awesome album with me - and Barbra Streisand is no LOGMAN. Which means she can sing helluva awesome. So yeah, this album is just fantastic.

Highlights: Guilty, Promises, What Kind of Fool, Life Story

8/10

GUILTY - Ayumi Hamasaki

This album is a combination of big boombastic rock and adventurous pop stylings. And it all blends together perfectly. The rock stuff is epic; massive guitars, huge drums and the songs go HARD! I cannot begin to express just how much I love the acoustic guitar in fated. I live for it.

Highlights: talkin' 2 myself, decision, fated, MY ALL

8.5/10

Guilty Pleasures - Barbra Streisand

While Guilty was a pop masterclass, the sequel is still very well done, just much more of a mature 'adult' pop album. Which makes sense, since B & B were now 25 years older. Which was 20 years ago... holy bananas. And I just read that Barry Gibb released his own demos of the Guilty album. That might be a more interesting listen.

Highlights: Stranger in a Strange Land, Night of My Life, All the Children

6/10

Gutterflower - Goo Goo Dolls

Did we ever get a definitive answer on whether they are "The" Goo Goo Doll or just Goo Goo Dolls? Well, even if that has not been decided, I have certainly decided that I criminally ignore these guys - because they make very very good pop rock. Like, a lot of it is sneakily upbeat. Great lyrics, too. I may have to check out some of their stuff that came after this album, because I have heard probably one song after this album and I can no longer justify ignoring them.

Highlights: Big Machine, Think About Me, Here is Gone, Tucked Away

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 737

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2025 in 2025: Day 89

The Grey Album - Danger Mouse

I genuinely consider this to be a very clever concept, and the execution is pretty much brilliant. What More Can I Say mixed with While My Guitar Gently Weeps becomes a completely different beast. 

Highlights: What More Can I Say, 99 Problems, Change Clothes, Allure

7.5/10

Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) - Spiller

The song that introduced the world to Sophie Ellis-Bextor. And this sounds a lot like the music she would do on her own - just a bit more of a house dance kind of thing. Still a perfect Summer song.

10/10

Guero - Beck

This dude is such hit or miss sometimes. And I feel like I have to be in the right mood to really appreciate his silliness. But it is good working music, due to the rhythm and grooves.

Highlights: E-Pro, Que Onda Guero, Hell Yes, Send a Message to Her

6.5/10

Gureolito - Beck

And now for the remix version of Guero. Which is just pretty much the same? Maybe a little less good?

Highlights: Shake Shake Tambourine (Black Tambourine) - Adrock Remix, Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes) - 8bit Remix, Scarecrow - El-P Remix

6/10

THE GUERRiLLA BiSH - BiSH

This is my kind of album. BiSH were my kind of band! Bah gawd SHARR is just pure madness and screaming. The album certainly trails off about halfway through, but that is only because the start of the album is so awesome. And then it gets almost as awesome at the end. And in-between is a big barrel of fun and crazy and crazy fun!

Highlights: My landscape, SHARR, Smack Baby Smack, プロミスザスター, パール, FOR HiM

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 732

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2025 in 2025: Day 88

Greatest Hits - Ice Cube

This is purely You Can Do It, because this song is one helluva a badass track. I should have the full album, or at least more Ice Cube, probably.

9/10

Greatest Hits - Falco

You know the drill; this is just Rock Me Amadeus and... Putting on the Ritz? That's not even a Falco song. This version of Rock Me Amadeus seems to be some sort of remix. Clearly I need to sort this out...

8/10

Greatest Hits - Bob Seger

An actual full album - though I do hesitate to call a greatest hits compilation an album. Bob Seger is highly underrated. I am not saying that he is the greatest rocker ever or anything like that, but he has some seriously fantastic songs that should be played on classic rock radio stations a lot more. For those weirdos that still listen to radio stations.

Highlights: Hollywood Nights, Still the Same, Night Moves, Against the Wind

7/10

Greatest Hits - Aretha Franklin

Bah gawd this woman could sing. This contains a whole lot of cover songs, but also a nice range of her soul classics and 80s jams. I think I may actually prefer the Blues Brothers version of Think.

Highlights: I Knew You Were Waiting, Respect, Like a Natural Woman, Rock Steady

7/10

Greatest Hits - Diana Ross

This is purely I'm Coming Out, which is a glorious display of funk and pop and dance.

10/10

Greatest Hits - 2Pac

Surprisingly, I have never really been much of a 2Pac fan. However, I have Changes and All About U, because they are killer. Changes is definitely better than that Van Morrison song.

10/10

Greatest Hits - Joe Tex

This is just Ain't Gonna Bump No More - which may well be the funnest funky song on the planet. How have I never heard more Joe Tex?

10/10

Greatest Hits III - Queen+

This is basically the Queen+ portion of the album, since I have all the rest elsewhere. But why has No One But You not been released elsewhere?

Highlights: The Show Must Go On (Live w/Elton John), Somebody to Love (Live w/George Michael), No One But You

9/10

Greatest Hits Live - Ace Frehley

When I did Kissathon II, these songs had been split across a couple of older Ace Frehley compilations. It has since been released as its own album, so it is nice to have them all in once place - even if it is clearly two different concerts. The two bonus studio tracks are the absolute best songs.

Highlights: One Plus One, Give it to Me Anyway, Shock Me (Live), Stranger in a Strange Land (Live)

8/10

Greatest Hits Live - Split Enz

Not sure how I ended up with this, but it is purely Six Months in a Leaky Boat. I would be interested to hear the rest of the album. And my library certainly needs more Split Enz.

9/10

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 - KoЯn

Thank Prime this is just their cover of Word Up! Which is vastly inferior to both the original and the Gun cover. That version rocks the cocks!

7/10

Greatest Kiss - Kiss

I have said it before and I will say it again, but this is the best Kiss compilation. And while I have all these songs on their respective albums, I will never remove this from my library, because sometimes you just need an awesome Kiss compilation to get you in the groove.

Highlights: The Whole Kit and Caboodle

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 727

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2025 in 2025: Day 87

Greatest Hits - Smokie
I genuinely had no idea Needles and Pins was not an original song by the Ramones! It is not an original song by Smokie, either, but I have no recollection of hearing their version until now. And it is awesome. I grew up listening to some sort of Smokie compilation on all road trips, but half of these songs I do not remember at all. In fact, it does not feature half of the songs I remember from that tape! Regardless, these are good songs.
Highlights: Needles and Pins, Don't Play Your Rock'n Roll to Me, Oh Carol, Wild Wild Angels
7/10

Greatest Hits - Will Smith

How do I not have the full album of this? I mean, Will Smith is all sorts of awesome and his Fresh Prince days were all pretty killer. Shame on my name and my game!

Highlights: Nod Your Head (Black Suit's Comin'), Summertime, Boom! Shake the Room

9/10

Greatest Hits - MC Hammer

This is purely Addams Groove. Because I have every other song from this album on their original albums. LOGMAN does not play when it comes to his Hammer collection. This song is as cool now as it was almost 35 years ago.

9/10

Greatest Hits - INXS

Genuinely one of the best Australian bands ever. And this is just a killer compilation.

Highlights: Taste It, The Strangest Party (These are the Times), Need You Tonight, New Sensation

9/10

Greatest Hits - Al Green

This is purely Let's Stay Together. It is a beautiful soul jam. It is weird that I do not really know more Al Green...

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 715

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2025 in 2025: Day 86

G is for Get ready for the GREATEST week!

Greatest - Duran Duran

This is such a good reminder of just how great Duran Duran were. That chorus in Rio is sooo fantastic. And boy howdy do these songs have such groovy basslines. I admit, as a child it was confusing that there were so many guys in this band with the surname Taylor and they were not related and one of them was even Roger but not in Queen.

Highlights: Ordinary World, New Moon on Monday, Notorious, Planet Earth

8/10

Greatest Hats - Men Without Hats

This is purely Safety Dance. It feels not so safe, especially if you have Bone-itus.

8/10

Greatest Hits - Village People

Trump may have kind of ruined Y.M.C.A., but these guys will never stop being enjoyable. Ray Simpson will forever be the better singer, though. Singing stuff like "Don't go in the bushes" always makes me laugh. And this dude wants us to stop saying there is absolutely zero gay subtext going on here? Ray Simpson would never. I should watch Can't Stop the Music again.

Highlights: Y.M.C.A., Go West, Macho Man, Do You Wanna Spend the Night

8/10

Greatest Hits - Sublime

These guys never really did anything for me. I do not really dig reggae at the best of times, and this is full on stoner reggae with added cheesy early 00s whiteboy rapping and record scratches. Like Sugar Ray on weed. Also, every pub band I grew up around plays half of these songs.

Highlights: What I Got, Santeria

6/10

Greatest Hits - The Cure

I should probably do a clean up of this, because there are really only a handful of songs that are not available on other albums. But I'll damned if this is not just a fun collection of The Cure singles. Like, this is pretty much The Cure at their most fun all the way.

Highlights: Mint Car, Wrong Number, In Between Days, Close to Me, Just Like Heaven

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 710

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