2025 in 2025: Day 176

Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure

The Cure are one of my favourite bands of all time. Easily in my top 10. They have some incredibly epic albums full of emotion, but also effortlessly switch between pop rock fun and nihilistic despair. This album is nothing of the sort.

Highlights: Grinding Halt, Another Day, 10:15 Saturday Night, Three Imaginary Boys

6/10

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Hot take: this is not MJ's best album. However, Beat It and Billie Jean are just such phenomenal songs that it meant this album sold a bajillion copies. Dangerous and Bad do not feature awful collaborations with Paul McCartney, so they are infinitely better. The worst part is that other song he did with McCartney is actually a good song!

Highlights: Beat It, Billie Jean, Human Nature, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

8/10

Throwing Copper - Live

Every song is either Quiet LOUD Quiet, or Quiet Quiet LOUD. Except for Waitress - which is LOUD Quiet LOUD, for some weird reason. It is all fine and dandy, but nothing overly exceptional that has made me go out of my way to listen to this in the last 30 years.

Highlights: Top, Pillar of Davidson, White Discussion, Iris

7/10

Tidal - Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple is the lyricist Swifties think their cult leader is. I may appreciate her angst and subsequent vocal performance on When the Pawn... more, but boy howdy this album has some pretty deep emotions. 

Highlights: Criminal, Sullen Girl, Never is a Promise, Pale September

8/10

Tiffany - Tiffany

Sadly, I do not have the full album - just I Think We're Alone Now. I am not sure why I do not have at least the other singles. Because I am lame, that is why!

8/10

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

This is only The Goonies 'R' Good Enough - for obvious reasons! I should watch that movie again one day.

8/10

Timeless: New Recordings Honoring The Music Of Hank Williams - Various Artists

This is just Ryan Adams' cover of Lovesick Blues. He puts on his most irritating fake country voice for this one...

5/10

Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop - Stone Temple Pilots

I love Weiland's voice on this album - he has gone for a bit more of a raspy glam rock kind of vibe and it really suits the way everything comes together, because musically it has bit of a glam rock vibe as well. Like, total peak art school Led Zeppelin tribute act vibes. And I mean that in the most complimentary of ways.

Highlights: Lady Picture Show, Trippin' On a Hole in a Paper Heart, Seven Caged Tigers, Tumble in the Rough

8/10

To the 5 Boroughs - Beastie Boys

Oh snap the boys are back! Just straight-up NYC hip-hop. War is bad. George W. Bush is a clown. Racism and bigotry are bad. Sampling Sonic Reducer is the greatest idea ever and I will forgive them for using it to tell me how great New York is.

Highlights: An Open Letter to NYC, Right Right Now Now, Rhyme the Rhyme Well, Time to Build

8.5/10

TO THE DREAM - The Tomboys

As indie as ever, but even more catchy. And fun. 

Highlights: Tell Me Why, I GOTTA GO, SATURDAY NIGHT

7/10

The The Extreme - Vanilla Ice

V.I.P. in the house! I unironically love still enjoy the enjoy the bejeebus out of this album; sure, the rhymes are corny, but there are plenty of James Brown samples, fun old school grooves, and Vanilla's silly rapping is part of the charm. I still need to find that third version of Play That Funky Music...

Highlights: Ice Ice Baby, Ice is Workin' It, Dancin', Go Ill

8/10

To Whom It May Concern - Lisa Marie Presley

Lisa Marie's debut album, featuring some pretty standard pop country rock stylings - kind of like a modern take on where her Dad left off, I guess? Some surprisingly decent songs to be found. I need to remember to give this a closer listen again some time...

Highlights: Lights Out, S.O.B., Nobody Noticed It, So Lovely

7/10

Today - George Harrison

Another George Harrison bootleg of randomness. Mostly collaborations and whatnot. And I have most of them on other albums? And I am not 100% convinced he actually performs on some of them. 

Highlights: Power to the People, Your True Love (Live - Carl Perkins' Memorial Service), Horse to the Water

6.5/10

Today (Legacy Edition) - Elvis Presley

One of The King's final albums and highly underrated; still not too dissimilar to the rest of his 70s output, but it is mostly fun and Elvis feels like he put a bit of effort it. The opening track is such an old school rock'n roll kind of groove, I cannot help but love it. The undubbed versions are not too different - except you can hear Elvis getting the giggles during Susan When She Tried.

Highlights: T-R-O-U-B-L-E, Pieces of My Life, Fairytale, Shake a Hand

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1714

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2025 in 2025: Day 167

Soul Assassins II - Various Artists

DJ Muggs making phat beats with various MCs and singers... and all LOGMAN has is Xzibit and King T telling my sorry ass You Better Believe It. Gawdam X to the Z back in 2000 was awesome.

8/10

Soul Deep - Jimmy Barnes

An Aussie pub-rock legend shows his roots by banging out some classic R&B. And absolutely killing it. The production is a bit dated now, but overall these are some VERY good renditions.

Highlights: (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher, When Something Is Wrong With My Baby, River Deep Mountain High, Signed Sealed Delivered (I'm Yours)

8/10

Soul Deeper - Jimmy Barnes

To celebrate the 10 years of Soul Deep probably being Barnesy's most popular album, he decided to do a follow-up. No super keyboard sounding strings, but also not entirely R&B this time and more just covers from the 60s. 

Highlights: Hold On I'm Coming, To Love Somebody, 634-5789, All the Young Dudes

7/10

Sound Loaded - Ricky Martin

This man and his Latin groove really jam. And this album influenced his work for 9/11, so extra points there! It is actually more fun than I recall.

Highlights: Loaded, Saint Tropez, She Bangs, The Touch, One Night Man

7/10

The Sound of Revenge - Chamillionaire

Of course this is only the hit song Ridin'. I think this might actually be the 'clean' version, which irritates me to no end. Which also tells me I do not listen to this song enough!

8/10

Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem

A proper collaborative 'band' album instead of just James Murphy being solo like the debut album, which leads to quite a different sound. Massive extended sprawling instrumentals like it is The Cure doing electronica and hitting all the hipsters right in the feels. Nancy Whang saying "Get innocuous!" makes my day!

Highlights: All My Friends, Someone Great, Get Innocuous!, New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down

9/10

Sound-G Sign - Brown Eyed Girl

Welcome back to random K-Pop songs of the day! Very atypical of 2009 - this could easily be 2NE1 or any other group of the time that is not as good as them.

Highlights: Sign, Drunk on Sleep

6/10

The Sounds of Science - Beastie Boys

Another compilation where I took out everything I have elsewhere, because I should have all Beastie Boys. However, I have never owned Licensed to Ill or Some Old Bullshit, so I need some songs from those albums and the other random songs that are on here. Mostly the hardcore stuff. I have Aglio e Olio on vinyl. Still sealed. Someone pay me a million dollars for it.

Highlights: Slow and Low, Fight For Your Right, Soba Violence, Alive, I Want Some

8/10

South - Heather Nova

My iTunes has this labelled as "Alternative & Punk". While the lyrics for Virus of the Mind do speak to anti-conformity, they may be off a bit there with that assessment. This is pretty solid, if lacking the outright emotion of Oyster and Siren, and instead is a more mature acoustic pop album. A little happier in some ways. Definitely more of a "love" vibe.

Highlights: Just Been Born, Tested, Virus of the Mind, It's Only Love, Like Lovers Do

7.5/10

Space Invader - Ace Frehley

This album has really grown on me since Kissathon II; I thought it was pretty average at the time of release, but the more I have listened to it the more I just enjoy how much Ace rocks on it. 

Highlights: Starship, Past the Milky Way, Space Invader, Reckless

8/10

The Space Madness Sessions - Ryan Adams

We go from the coolest man ever making fun rock, to the douchiest douche making crappy alt country rock and in poor demo form. What a world. Is someone else singing here? Because some of these feature the worst singing since me.

Highlights: You must be joking

3/10

Spaceman - Ace Frehley

Yes more Ace Frehley! Hard to believe there are 4 years between this and Space Invader - it all feels very similar. Soar high in outer space, Ace!

Highlights: Bronx Boy, Mission to Mars, Quantum Flux, Rockin' with the Boys

8/10

Spacewalk: A Salute to Ace Frehley - Various Artists

"Insult to Ace Frehley" would be more accurate. While not as terrible as I remembered, it is still rather terrible. It at least ends with a super awesome song by Ace, so it has that going for it...

Highlights: Take Me to the City - Ace Frehley

5/10

The Spaghetti Incident? - Guns N' Roses

GnR doing covers is fine and all, but Duff unleashing his punk was truly a revelation to teenage LOGMAN. So while the general public felt personally offended by such an obvious waste of time, LOGMAN decided this was cool and was probably the first Guns N' Roses CD I ever bought. 

Highlights: New Rose, Ain't It Fun, Down on the Farm, Hair of the Dog

8/10

Spawn: The Album - Various Artists

A expansion of the Judgement Night soundtrack concept, except this time it was teaming up alt bands with electronic artists. And not nearly as consistently good. A bit too focused on the electronic side, which featured artists that were not very good and results in stuff sounding VERY dated.

Highlights: One Man Army - The Prodigy & Tom Morello, (Can't You) Trip Like I Do, Kick the P.A. - Korn & The Dust Brothers, Torn Apart - Stabbing Westward & Wink

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1580

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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 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 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 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 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

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 35

Charisma.BEST - Charisma.com

Gawddam I have a lot to say about this album, but I'm just too busy right now. Sure, it's a compilation that is almost rendered obsolete by my Charisma.com collection, but I've had to keep it because of a few songs that are from EPs and I am still missing the album not not me, which contains some of their best songs - most particularly #hashdark. Which is just a perfect song. I could listen to that all day. And this album. In fact, there are likely days when I have.

Highlights: もや燃やして, #hashdark, やれよ。, メキメキmore, りぼん

8/10

Charmbracelet - Mariah Carey

Mariah moving further in to... not different territory? Although, this album does contain her Eminem diss track - did she win that war? Also, an appearance from Mack 10? I take it back; this album is actually more in line with the style from Mariah Carey that I appreciate - good grooves, good singing, cool rappers. It is just a bit inconsistent, overall. But that is kind of how I view most Mariah albums, I guess.

Highlights: You Got Me, Clown, You Had Your Chance, Irresistible (West Side Connection), Subtle Invitation

6/10

Charmbracelet [Bonus Disc] - Mariah Carey

This is some re-release tour edition or something. Likely from Japan? It is just four bonus songs. Busta Rhymes is not much of a singer. 

Highlights: There Goes My Heart

6/10

Check Your Head - Beastie Boys

I hate to admit this, but for many a listen to this album I could not work out how half the song titles aligned with the songs, because they mention so many of the different song titles in other songs. And there are all these little interludes and what not. Look, I was young and stupid, okay? The main point is I was listening to this album and it is awesome and Beastie Boys really were the best. MCA on Professor Booty is just 5-star delivery and attitude.

Highlights: Pass The Mic, So What'cha Want, Stand Together, In 3's

8/10

Check Your Head [Bonus Disc] Beastie Boys

This is from the 2009 reissue. A whole lot of remixes - including So What'Cha Want with Cypress Hill, so that makes me happy. Then there is also the full album commentary from the Beastie Boys themselves. Like watching a movie with commentary, except you can't watch anything. It is very interesting for a musician and Beastie Boys fan.

Highlights: The Skills to Pay the Bills, Stand Together (Live), Finger Lickin' Good (Government Cheese Remix)

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 287