2025 in 2025: Day 181

Up Your Alley - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

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

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

7.5/10

Urban Hymns - The Verve

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

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

8/10

Ursa Major - Third Eye Blind

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

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

7.5/10

Use Your Illusion I - Guns N' Roses

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

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

8/10

Use Your Illusion II - Guns N' Roses

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

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

9/10

V is for 

The Vacation - The Vacation

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

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

6.5/10

Vampire Weekend Covers - Ryan Adams

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

Highlights: short

4/10

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

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

Highlights: Vampires

5/10

The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale - Prince

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

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

6/10

Veni Vidi Vicious - The Hives

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

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

7.5/10

Version - Mark Ronson

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

10/10

Version 2.0 - Garbage

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

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

7.5/10

The Very Best of - Dolly Parton

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

8/10

The Very Best of - Hues Corporation

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

9/10

The Very Best of Bonnie Tyler - Bonnie Tyler

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

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1785

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2025 in 2025: Day 164

Sinner - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

I am not sure if it is just the production, but this album rocks and Jett's voice goes hard! Somewhat more consistent than some of her 80s album and a bit more solidly punk. Also opening with some mocking of George W. Bush is a great way to set the tone.

Highlights: A.C.D.C., Riddles, Tube Talkin', Everyone Knows, Bad Time

7.5/10

Sinner - Drowning Pool

Thankfully this is only the song Bodies. It is a key musical ingredient in one of the greatest scenes in cinema history.

8/10

Siren - Heather Nova

Heather Nova hitting some serious pop hooks. beautiful soaring ballads and even some kinda sexy grooves. And my man David Ayers makes his guitar sound like various animals and contraptions to help take some of the songs to another level. This may well be her chilled-out pop masterpiece.

Highlights: Winterblue, London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do), Heart and Shoulder, Ruby Red

9/10

Six60 - Six60

I can kind of understand why these guys are so popular; some pretty cool guitar riffs, basic vocals anyone can sing, and all pretty harmless. And New Zealander's love to celebrate mediocrity. But, yeah, it is not the worst album a New Zealand group has released.

Highlights: Only to Be, Run for It, Take it from Here

6/10

sixxxxxx - Ayumi Hamasaki

Fun cheesy bops, somber ballads, Ayu thinking she is Linkin Park. This EP covers everything and does not waste time with any pretentious nonsense. And this was only 4 months after the glorious A ONE album. Legends will be told of how amazing she was before the fall...

Highlights: Step by Step, Sorrows, Summer Diary, Sky High

10/10

Skin of a Stone - Dead Flowers

Early 90s New Zealand grunge? Hard rock? Metal? It has to be one of the earliest rock songs featuring Maori vocals, right? I remember the time when Wildside was the record label for all the alt rock acts - pretty sure most New Zealand albums I bought were on that label.

Highlights: Plastic, Underground, Someday, Mihi

7/10

Skull & Bones - Cypress Hill

I really need to track down Sen Dog's nu-metal band, because enlisting the drummer from Rage Against the Machine to help you get heavy is always a winner. The first disc is standard Cypress Hill; do not smoke all their weed, they are bad dudes, etc. When I listen to Cypress Hill, I know what I am signing up for. Except for this 'Bones' disc.

Highlights: Valley of Chrome, Can't Get the Best of Me, Certified Bomb, Dust

7/10

Sky is the Limit - Drunken Tiger

It is funny how much these dudes like to shout out American rappers and their songs like they know who they are, but I guess they are trying to help make sure Korean kids know that Wu-Tang Clan are not something to fuck with?

Highlights: Jam Skhool (U Need To Learn Tho), 8:45 Heaven, 행복의 조건 (희망승일), 내가 싫다

7/10

The Skylarks - The Skylarks

Ryan Adams doing early bad grunge or something. Sounds like it was recorded on a tape recorder in the middle of a practice space. Covering Madonna shows he was always abusive to women!

5/10

Slap-Happy - L7

L7 move to a more "modern" sound, so now as they approach the millenium they sound like they are in 1993? 

Highlights: Livin' Large, Stick to the Plan, Mantra Down

6.5/10

The Slaughterhouse - Prince

Prince releasing self-produced funky tunes on the internet for his fans ONLY was peak internet. And then fans spreading it online for free is what the internet was for...

Highlights: Northside, Peace, Props 'N' Pounds, Y Should Eye Do That When Eye Can Do This?

7/10

Slave to the Grind - Skid Row

This album came out at exactly the wrong time. It should have been massive. It certainly was popular with me and my friends in 1995 when we realised just how hard it rocked. Still kind of hair metal (which is a good thing) but with some serious edge. Sebastian Bach well have had the best voice in all of the genre.

Highlights: Wasted Time, In a Darkened Room, Monkey Business, Riot Act

9/10

Sleeping With Ghosts - Placebo

This album is actually more enjoyable than I expected. I had a fairly negative idea of this band, because I am not a fan of the singer's voice, but there are some genuinely great songs in here. Much more pop and a little grand.

Highlights: The Bitter End, This Picture, Sleeping With Ghosts, Bulletproof Cupid

6.5/10

Sleepless in Brooklyn - [Alexandros]

Fairly standard Japanese fake indie pop. Like, it is good, but there is very little outstanding. The vocalist totally reminds me of the dude from Grinspoon, sometimes. The music does not at all!

Highlights: 明日、また, LAST MINUTE, Mosquito Bite

6.5/10

Slef Portait - The Shit

This is quite the concept album; it tells the story of a disturbed individual that is plotting to kill someone, and then does, attempts to kill themselves also, and then ends up in prison. It is all a bit cryptic, but the artistic storytelling is very moving. Boyz II Men can sing awesome as hell.

Highlights: I'm Going to Kill You, You're Dead, Oops You're Dead, I'm Going to Kill Myself in the Face, I Can't Make Records Anymore Cause I'm In Prison

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1535

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2025 in 2025: Day 158

Rubber Soul - The Beatles

I love this album... but there sure is a lot of filler. Must be more the "vibe" of the whole thing that really resonates? Why does McCartney insist on putting the worst songs on these albums?

Highlights: Drive My Car, Norwegian Wood, In My Life, Run For Your Life

8/10

Run-D.M.C. - Run-D.M.C.

There are three types of lyrics/raps on this album: socially conscious, move your body and get down, and we are the best MCs because we talk about social issues AND tell you to move your body and get down. And in all three, they will occasionally remind you that JMJ is the greatest DJ. I know it mostly sounds dated, but by george this album makes me want a glass bottle of Pepsi and throw my hat on backwards and just get down.

Highlights: Rock Box, It's Like That, Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1), Hollis Crew (Krush-Groove 2)

8/10

Runaway Horses - Belinda Carlisle

I would have liked to hear Ms. Carlisle do something a bit more punk. Possibly pop punk. I think she had the voice for it. I certainly do not think her voice was suited to slow pop ballads, but there was something in the way her voice breaks that would have sounded good doing songs from Josie and The Pussycats, I think.

Highlights: Leave a Light On, (We Want) The Same Thing, Deep Deep Ocean, Valentine

7/10

The Runaways - The Runaways

Just classic no-nonsense rock'n roll. It just so happens it was teenage girls doing it; something we should see more of, especially in this day and age. Simple 70s rock just cannot be beat.

Highlights: Cherry Bomb, Blackmail, You Drive Me Wild, Rock N Roll

7/10

Rural Free Delivery - Whiskeytown

I can never really tell if this band was a genuine attempt at country or if it was an almost satirical example of what Ryan Adams thought a country band sounded like. It is especially confusing knowing how completely disingenuous he actually is.

Highlights: Take Your Guns to Town, Captain Smith

6.5/10

A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay

This is not the same band that we see now. I refuse to believe it. The collaboration with BTS was about the closest thing to this, but it still comes up short a little. There is some serious grandiose stuff going on, while still sounding minimalist. I cannot explain it. I am partial to the songs that have a bit more of a menacing edge. Some of these songs are downright so depressing that listening to them may make you burn your house down while you sit inside drinking a bottle of gin.

Highlights: The Scientist, A Rush of Blood to the Head, Warning Sign, Amsterdam

8/10

Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams

In hindsight, this album should have been the warning; I still cannot decide if this or Prisoner can be seen as his 'mid-life crisis' album, or 'jumping the shark' moment, if you will, because it was after this he basically lost the plot and embraced being even less than mediocre while screaming at the void that he is better than everyone else. But yeah... clearly his marriage was in a bad place if he is here singing songs about a girl he had a childhood crush on, and singing about needing someone to save him. And do not get me started on the lyrics for Feels Like Fire. That song is fire. Lots of driving beats with 80s strat tones directly from Bryan Adams' Reckless. Genuinely speaking (or bLogging), this album grew on me and really spoke to me A LOT in 2015. But it really is the peak of the cliff.

Highlights: Tired of Giving Up, Feels Like Fire, Let Go, Gimme Something Good, Kim

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1459

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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 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 82

Get Ready - New Order

New Order's big comeback and not even Billy Corgan can bring it down. We can also thank this for The Killers getting their name. The middle part of this album goes from dark electronic beats to just straight-up radio rock. But the whole thing is bookended by just the most awesome songs - which are also a mix of dark head-drilling beats and simple radio-friendly rock. I always love the way they let the electronic songs build and layer the instruments - Peter Hook's bass work was more than just simple bass lines, more like melodies that added extra texture to the songs.

Highlights: Crystal, Turn My Way, Someone Like You, Close Range, Run Wild

8/10

Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent

Good luck finding me In da Club! This song has Eminem's fingerprints all over; matches his own style, with all the silly noises and background skits.

8/10

Get Rich or Die Tryin': Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture - 50 Cent

I only have the one song here - I'll Whip Ya Head Boy. Is this what they call mumble rap? Because I'll be damned if I can understand a word 50 is rapping here. I actually saw this movie! It was as dumb as this song.

5/10

Get Your Wings - Aerosmith

Middle of the road 70s Aerosmith. It is not bad at all - because Aerosmith did not learn how to be bad until the end of millennium - but it is not as awesome as they are capable of.

Highlights: S.O.S. (Too Bad), Train Kept a Rollin'

6.5/10

Ghetto Superstar - Pras

I was certain I had this full album, but apparently I only have Ghetto Superstar and Avenues. Which are awesome songs, so I am glad to at least still have them. How is it I disliked The Fugees but really enjoy the solo work from each member?

10/10

The Ghost of Tom Joad - Rage Against the Machine

I got this single when I purchased a Rage Against the Machine VHS. The song itself is on Renegades, so not really sure why I still have it. For the live songs? So I can have some killer Rage Against the Machine to get the party started on a rainy morning?

Highlights: The Ghost of Tom Joad, Vietnow (Live), The Ghost of Tom Joad (Live)

8/10

GiANT KiLLERS - BiSH

I cannot listen to this and not want to rock and dance and stomp a hole in the world. The best BiSH release. The best BiSH songs. That breakdown/bridge in Nothing. is the best. It is all just the best. I could listen to these five songs all day.

Highlights: GiANT KiLLERS, Marionette, Nothing., VOMiT SONG

10/10

Gimme Something Good [Single] - Ryan Adams

This is only the b-side Aching For More and it is in really bad quality. WTF? And it is actually fantastic.

9/10

Gin - Gin Wigmore

I knew this good run was going to end eventually. But to end so spectacularly badly?

Highlights: Under My Skin

4/10

A Girl Like Me - Emma Bunton

Sadly, this is purely the single What Took You So Long? I am somewhat surprised Emma Bunton never had more of a solo career. But if it means I get another Spice Girls reunion, then so be it!

8/10

Girl Power! Live In Istanbul - Spice Girls

This is the full concert; I'm guessing some of the songs are sourced straight from the video and the rest were b-sides on various singles. In case you are not a massive Spice Girls fan, this was their first ever live concert and the whole thing was broadcast live on TV. And then edited for VHS. And then (10 years later) DVD. Sure, their singing is nothing special live - Victoria is borderline awful - but they at least had a proper live band and that helps give the songs an extra kick in places.

Highlights: If You Can't Dance, Step to Me, Move Over [Encore], Wannabe [Encore]

7/10

Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli

I do no really care who actually sang these songs (I mean, obviously the real singers do deserve the credit), but these songs are serious jams and that can never be denied. Also, Milli Vanilli got a bad rapp and were totally thrown under the bus by their producer.

Highlights: Girl You Know It's True, Baby Don't Forget My Number, Blame it on the Rain

8/10

Girls, Girls, Girls - Mötley Crüe

Wild Side is all kinds of awesome badassery and Dancing on Glass is pretty darn cool, actually. Even some saxophone for added cool? And some type of gospel singer doing some "SWEET JESUS" warbling?? What the hell?? Sadly, Bad Boy Boogie does not continue the awesomeness. In fact, it's actually one of the dumbest Crüe songs you will ever hear. Like, I don't even understand what's going on here - Kiss lyrics against some weird blues riff with 80's production? Nona is non-anything. At least Five Years Dead has a cool opening riff. Except that's almost the entire song, so it feels like it just goes on and on. All In the Name of... is kinda ok. Except, again it's just the same riff over and over again. No wonder these dudes were doing so much drugs at this point. Sumthin' for Nuthin' is good - though I'm kinda confused by the big choir singing in the chorus, especially when it seems he's singing about being a gigolo? Again, 80's/drugs/insert reason. You're All I Need is some sort of attempt at an MTV ballad, I'm guessing. Except the lyrics are all about killing someone for not loving him back, so clearly this would have fit in better now. Except MTV don't play music videos now. Don't get me wrong, I know Nikki was having a good laugh writing this, but I feel like it would have been better served as a b-side or something. But considering the closing track on this album is a live cover of Jailhouse Rock, I am not convinced he had the cognitive ability to cobble together any other tracks at this point.

Highlights: Wild Side, Dancing on Glass, Sumthin' for Nuthin'

6.5/10

Gish - Smashing Pumpkins

What is more shocking than remembering I have a Smashing Pumpkins album in my iTunes library? Remembering I have two full Smashing Pumpkins albums in my iTunes library. Corgan's voice is not actually as annoying on this one, surprisingly. 

Highlights: Siva, Rhinoceros, Snail

6/10

Give 'Em Enough Rope - The Clash

Bah gawd I needed this after that. UK punk does not get any more classic and fun than this!

Highlights: Safe European Home, Tommy Gun, Drug-Stabbing Time, English Civil War

8/10

Glass Houses - Billy Joel

I get You May Be Right stuck in my head all the time, so quite a welcome listen. Lots of French lyrics and references going on here. Communist!

Highlights: You May Be Right, Sometimes a Fantasy, All for Leyna, Sleeping with the Television On

7/10

Glitter - Mariah Carey

MC and Nate Dogg is a combo I did not know I needed - but they could have left Ja Rule at home. Or at the homeless shelter. The pure audacity to ripoff Prince on I Didn't Mean to Turn You On! The general 80s grooves and super funky stylings are very cool, and MC doing her best to be sexy really suits it all. I remember this movie being.. a movie? I have it on blu-ray, in fact. I should watch it again!

Highlights: Loverboy, If We, I Didn't Mean to Turn You On, All My Life

7/10

Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Joan Jett albums usually contain a few killer tracks and then a bunch of filler. This album is the same, but without the former. There is nothing terrible, but it is all pretty standard fare. I am not convinced covering herself with Cherry Bomb was necessary. And it is a shame this was her last reissue. Give me the rest of her albums already!

Highlights: I Love You Love Me, Long Time, Someday, Push and Stomp

7/10

Glow Stars - Heather Nova

Heather Nova's first album is much less pop than anything else she has done since; very sparse and minimalist, and dare I say a bit darker? It relies too much on having spooky production or whatever, when I am sure they could have just made some proper songs instead. She has shown on every album since that she is more than capable!

Highlights: My Fidelity, Frontier, Shaking the Doll

5/10

GO 2 THE NEW WORLD - 2

This is not as balls-to-the-wall awesome as their follow up album (which we will get to in like 6 months), but still seriously rocks hard in parts. More of a UK indie garage rock sound than I initially expected. Cool guitar solos, as well!

Highlights: GO 2 THE NEW WORLD, FALL FALL FALL, SONG FOR YOU, LUCKY BOY

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 682

2025 in 2025: Day 72

The Final Countdown - Europe

Yeah, this is purely the title track. And it stomps. One of the most iconic intros of all time.

8/10

FiNAL SHiTS - BiSH

The beginning of the end (AKA BiSH is OVER) and while the main single is fine, the b-side is actually way cooler. Go figure.

Highlights: NOT FOREVER

8/10

Final Straw - Snow Patrol

I forgot how great most of this album actually is. Great lyrics, interesting vocal delivery (in the sense that he's almost just talking softly mostly the time), and rocking numbers without rocking too hard. Then coupled with a few epic kind of ballads and some lo-fi chill as well.

Highlights: How to Be Dead, Chocolate, Run, Spitting Games, Same

8/10

Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces - Seether

No idea how or why I have this. Luckily, it is just one song - Fake It.

5/10

Firestarr - Fredro Starr

I think this dude was on like Moesha or something? He's like DMX-lite and he is Dyin' 4 Rap. But the dude was down with JMJ, so that will always win points with me.

8/10

The First Recording - Heather Nova

Even back when her name was Heather Frith. Very simple acoustic numbers.

Highlights: These Walls

6.5/10

FIVE - Ayumi Hamasaki

The most perfect Ayu E.P.? Dance rock, fun bop, epic power ballad, beautiful ballad and then just epic over the top nonsense?

Highlights: progress, Why..., beloved

10/10

Fixurlifeup [Single] - 3RDEYEGIRL

One of my gripes with Prince in the modern-era was his inconsistency when it came to singles; sometimes they were just a single, sometimes they would end up on an album. So you just had to play roulette with buying the single and hope it didn't end up on an album. And, of course, this one did.

7/10

Flame Vein +1 - Bump of Chicken

Something about Bump of Chicken I can't put my finger on... like, they are good, and I enjoy listening to them... but nothing ever really stands out that much?

Highlights: ガラスのブルース, アルエ, ノーヒットノーラン, ナイフ, バトルクライ

7/10

Flaming Schoolgirls - The Runaways

I love The Runaways, but this really is a weird compilation; The Beatles' covers are not good and the Hollywood Cruisin' skit is just pointless, but then we get some cool live tracks that absolutely rock. They could have just added them to the Live in Japan album - a deluxe edition of that would be most welcome.

Highlights: C'mon, Blackmail, Is It Day or Night?, Secrets

6.5/10

Flash Back Summer End [Single] - INKYMAP

Nothing like some quickfire INKYMAP to rock the summer party. Honoh is not like anything else they've ever released.

Highlights: Flash Back Summer End, Honoh

8/10

Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack) - Queen

I remember a while back this album started getting a bit of a resurgence with internet nerds or something. There are really only two actual songs on here. And the versions of Flash's Theme are both different structurally to the single version. It has been a very long time since I watched the film, but I feel like this soundtrack moves in chronological order?

Highlights: Flash's Theme, The Hero, Football Fight, Battle Theme, Flash's Theme Reprise

7/10

Flashback - Joan Jett

A whole bunch of random Joan Jett tracks. Some are worthwhile, some are just kinda there. Which is always the case with these kinds of compilations. And, let's be honest, most of Joan Jett's albums. However, I forgot about Joan rapping and that is the greatest moment of the 80s.

Highlights: Be My Lover, Black Leather, Light of Day, MCA

7.5/10

Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture - Various Artists

Would you believe that this is not the complete album? Particularly when there are so many great musicians involved with it. I should turn in my 80s membership...

Highlights: Flashdance... What a Feeling - Irene Cara, Maniac - Michael Sembello

9/10

Flavors of Entanglement - Alanis Morissette

Alanis going full in to electropop. Guy Sigsworth's production and just general song-shaping hold up - this album does not really sound dated at all. Today seems to be a day for forgotten gems in my library.

Highlights: Underneath, Versions of Violence, Tapes, Incomplete

7/10

Flavors of Entanglement (Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc) - Alanis Morissette

These are the most middle of the road bonus tracks one could ask for. Alanis enjoys tequila.

Highlights: Limbo No More

6/10

Flesh & Wood - Jimmy Barnes

Barnesy goes unplugged. Covers and collabs and reworkings. I could do without the fiddle, because that makes things a bit more country, but otherwise this is all pretty decent.

Highlights: The Weight, Ride the Night Away, Fade to Black, Still Got a Long Way to Go

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 583

2025 in 2025: Day 15

Bad - Michael Jackson
I still remember when the video for Bad was released and it was this major moment in pop culture - pretty sure everyone in the world gathered around their television to watch the premiere. This is one of those albums that I'm like 'oh yeah, that's a good one' and then I listen to it and I end up having the best time. This may well be Michael Jackson's most perfect album. I especially like the way in Bad that he's singing all this tough rap, then the end verse is MJ saying 'let's make the world a better place!' but in a tough way, like he's going to dance on your face if you don't do it. I am a rather large fan of Steve Stevens, so him appearing to make some lazer noises is always a highlight. 

Highlights: Bad, Speed Demon, Man in the Mirror, Smooth Criminal

9/10

Bad Girl II - One Two [Feat. Seo In Young]

One Two are a rap duo from South Korea. Seo In Young has a nice voice. And this song is a good groove.

7/10

Bad Meets Evil - Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce da 5'9)

This had me confused because I forgot everything going on, but basically this is just the song Scary Movies. It is classic Eminem rapping about killing people and doing all the noises to go with it. Royce da 5'9 completely outshines him, though.

7.5/10

Bad News - Bad News

I have some 80s re-release that features a whoooole lot of skits. And they are actually hilarious. Because it's Bad News and these guys are hilarious. There's even a comment about Brian not being there, so they should drink - the Brian they are referring to is Brian May, who produced this album. And plays a bit of lead guitar here and there. His stuff is quite obvious, because he's the only person on this album that can actually play guitar well. Who would have thought "La-ger" would be a good vocal warm-up? I definitely prefer the original 'faster' version of Warriors of Ghengis Khan. I can only imagine how much Brian May must have been laughing when they recorded that guitar solo in Bohemian Rhapsody. Bah gawd this makes me want to watch The Young Ones. 

Highlights: Bohemian Rhapsody, Cashing in on Christmas

6/10

Bad Reputation - Joan Jett

Joan Jett comes storming through the wall with a leather jacket and a genuine 'outta my way' attitude. This is another case where the bonus tracks are a detriment to the album; they are fine, I guess, but just not on the level of anything on the original album, and just serve to make things longer. Otherwise, this album is pure kickass fun.

Highlights: Bad Reputation, Make Believe, Too Bad On Your Birthday

7.5/10

A Ballads - Ayumi Hamasaki

Now, iTunes do alphabetical properly by ignoring anything that starts with "A" or "The". However, that probably shouldn't apply to this album - Ayu does tend to use that "A" as genuine naming. Which would have made half of her discography start my whole marathon. So I'm very happy that didn't happen (I like having the good stuff spread out - I couldn't imagine not getting any Ayu for like 6 months). This is more of a compilation of remixes, plus two new songs. RAINBOW is magical. The alt. rock version of A Song for xx is also very cool.

Highlights: RAINBOW, HANABI, Dearest, A Song for xx "030213 Session #2"
8/10

Bananarama - The Very Best Of Bananarama - Bananarama

Well, that album title is stupid and needs to be changed. But for now, I guess this is what I get! And what I get is a collection of fun UK pop songs from the 80s. So I'm going to accept this gift very happily. Although I'm pretty sure I could cut this album down to ten tracks and it still be plenty more than "essential". 

Highlights: Venus, Love in the First Degree, I Want You Back, Only Your Love

6/10

Band of Dynamic Duo - Dynamic Duo

I ended up with a bunch of songs by Dynamic Duo, somehow. And I have a sneaking suspicion that they may not all be labelled correctly; I mean, these songs, for one, have song names like "ºÒ¸éÁõ". Now, I'm not expert in Korean linguistics, but that doesn't seem correct. Thank Prime for Shazam so I can sort these out...

Highlights: Guilty (my copy of this at least has the English title in brackets, so am at least a little more confident in the labelling on that one)
7/10

Bangerz - Miley Cyrus

This album is peak Gen Z or Millenial or whatever that generation is that were born in the 90s. The people that were like 15-22 when this album came out. Because Miley was everywhere then. Sticking her tongue out and twerking her non-existent butt. I was in my 30s and have the personality of a grumpy old man, so I just found her annoying. It all kinda distracted from her singing... which is dumb, because she is effortlessly awesome at singing. Twelve years on, I can remove all that and just reflect on the music. And this album is pretty darn good. Sure, there are a few duds, but most pop albums have those. Otherwise, the album is pretty much what it claims to be: Bangerz. Writing a song in TXT speak is about as peak whatevergeneration as it gets.

Highlights: Adore You, Wrecking Ball, FU, On My Own

7.5/10

Barbra Streisand [Single] - Duck Sauce

Get down with your funky self! Or even Barbra Streisand. This song definitely wins awards for being so random. I need to get to that auto-biography soon...

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 124

2025 in 2025: Day 6

amp-relection - School Food Punishment
Going in to this, I was under the impression this was some weird electronic lo-fi chill out album I had picked up from a friend some years ago and had listened to once or twice to no major impression. And this intro starts and I'm all like 'Yeah, just what I thought'. And then the first song goodblue starts and I'm like 'Oh I am all kinds of wrong!' because this album is my jam, right here! Power-pop with electronic elements and all sorts of good stuff going on. I hope you take a lot from my technical breakdown.
Highlights: goodblue, future nova, 駆け抜ける
7.50/10

And Now... The Runaways
Joan Jett fronting The Runaways is always good times. Apart from a terrible cover of Eight Days a Week. And the middle part of this album. And Takeover might be the dumbest song Jett has ever written - it's total cold war propaganda, complaining about how the Russians are causing all sorts of trouble? But then again, look at the modern world and tell her she's wrong. Anyways, there are some good songs in here, but this is definitely the lowest of The Runaways' discography.
Highlights: Saturday Night Special, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Black Leather
7/10

...And Then There Was X - DMX
Aaah of course, this is just Party Up (Up In Here). Because it is the meanest, angriest, grooviest hip-hop song on the planet. Adding the rest of this album to my list of albums to update in full.
9/10

Angel Dust - Faith No More
Fun story time: on my first day of high school, a 7th form guy in my home room came to me and asked me if I liked Faith No More. I was familiar with Epic and a couple of songs from The Real Thing, I think, and I liked Midlife Crisis. So the next day, he brought in his Faith No More tape collection and told me to go listen to them. He also suggested that Angel Dust might be a bit different, but to give it a chance. He was right on all counts, because Faith No More were generally very good, and this album is their peak. Not sure what Sir James Martin's problem was, because his riffs and shredding are key to its success. Station. This whole thing rides the line between alt rock and whatever pretentious nonsense Mike Patton has going on in his head. Because there is some bizarre stuff going on here; cheerleaders, war marches, songs desperately trying to sound like Primus... but then there's some killer hooks and funky grooves. Plus, Patton's hairstyle during this period was on point. Please file my report at the Faith No More Spiritual & Theological Centre.
Highlights: Land of Sunshine, Caffeine, Mid-Life Crisis, Everything's Ruined, A Small Victory
8/10

Animalize - Kiss
Shredder!!! Modern Kiss should have attempted this album live - it would have been hilarious to hear Thayer try and do even the tiniest bit of this shredding. It would be like... me trying to do even the slowest bit of shredding. In the grand discography of Kiss, this would be totally middle of the road if Mark St John wasn't shredding everything everywhere all over your face. Oh you want some more ridiculous shredding? I think I can only spare another bit of that in every song!
Highlights: Shreddy-shred-shredd-shred-shredder!!
6/10

Soul Taker - Anipara Superband
This sounds like some live version I picked up somewhere... Pretty sure I scored this because it features Psychic Lover (I can def hear YOFFY singing some backing vocals and that guitar solo sounds suspiciously like IMAJO). I despise romaji, so I think I need to update the band name in iTunes to correct Japanese. Or just delete the song, because it's garbage.
2/10

ANOMALY - The Hiatus
The greatest band name ever. Featuring the greatest band member ever. And still only his third best band. It took me a long time to actually give this album a decent listen, because the opening is just... too much. BUT once you get past it, there are some great songs on here. A bit more aggressive than their first album. And a lot harsher. However, this may be 細美さん's best vocal performance on any album - he really let's it rip on songs like Insomnia. I would gladly wake up the world by playing ベテルギウスの灯 too loudly. But then, how could I play that song too loud?
Highlights: Insomnia, ベテルギウスの灯, 西門の昧爽
7.5/10

Anomaly [Deluxe Edition] - Ace Frehley
Oh, look - another album with the same name. And, hilariously, these were only released nine months apart. Anyways, a couple of years ago when playing catchup on my Ace Frehley collection, I finally picked up the reissue of this album. It's the same album, just with some bonus tracks that are completely pointless. Luckily, the rest of the album is unchanged, because this is still one of Ace's best albums. Genghis Khan features some of his absolute best playing in ever. And Fractured Quantum always gives me the utmost feels.
Highlights: Genghis Khan, Sister, Fractured Quantum
7.5/10 (again, take away the bonus tracks and this is a solid 8)

Another Disc - Brian May
This is the bonus disc for the Another World reissue. I finally managed to pick up all three Brian May solo box sets for more affordable pricing last year, and that made my little Brian May corner very happy. Nice touching tribute to Cozy Powell to open this - dude was a phenomenal drummer, as accentuated in the remix to Business. Then we get a bunch of covers of old rock'n roll songs. Including Hot Patootie from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Brian May doing Buddy Holly is a combination of two of my most favourite legends. This is all good, but then the whole collection trails off in to unnecessary reworkings of Business. Which makes me sick of Business. Which is a shame, because Business is my favourite track on Another World. I'm saying Business all the time so that you, too, will also be sick of Business.
Highlights: The rock'n roll covers, giving me the Business over Business
5.5/10

Another World - Brian May
I got so caught up in listening to this album I almost forgot to write anything. Business is awesome - being sick of it lasted about 30 seconds. The Guv'nor should have been the theme song to The Governor in The Walking Dead - I'm going to need someone to edit together some sort of highlights package for him to this song. Everything here is good, just fairly standard rock/blues type of stuff, with some nice ballads thrown in. Is it exceptional? No - but it is Brian May, so there is nothing bad about any of it.
Highlights: Business, The Guv'nor
7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 55

2025 in 2025: Day 2

Aerosmith - Aerosmith
I am almost ashamed to admit this, but... this is probably the first time I'm ever listening to this album. Like, ever. I'm not sure how that happened? I had Aerosmith obsessed friends in high school. I was given all their albums probably close to 20 years ago. So I have absolutely no excuse. Anyways, I'm guessing this is Aerosmith's debut album? It's rad as hell and I should have been listening to this much sooner in life. I think I like the live version of Dream On more, but otherwise this is solid 70s rock good times!
Highlights: Make It, Mama Kin, LOGMAN waking up to the awesome of this album.
7.5/10

Affirmation - Savage Garden
Okay, so no, this is not the full album - simply the song Crash and Burn. There will be more like this, I'm sure. Darren Hayes is a phenomenal singer and seems like a decent dude, but I could never really get into Savage Garden. However, this song is very good.
8/10

Afterglow - Crowded House
This is some sort of rarities compilation released after the band split back in... 1996? It's almost 30 years later and they're still going again, albeit it is now just the Neil Finn Family Travelling Jamboree or something. There's a reason most of this was just b-sides and demos that didn't make the cut for their albums.
Highlights: Private Universe [Acoustic Version], Anyone Can Tell, Recurring Dream
6/10

Afterglow - Sarah McLachlan
Two albums with the same name? I wonder how many times that is going to happen... and things sure have chilled out this morning! This is a solid album, but I can't help feel like it is trying to go somewhere and then just kind of doesn't. Like, she was trying to push her sound a little further on this and then they got scared and decided to stick with the classic mellow Sarah McLachlan sound. Or that is just purely her sound and these couple of tracks were just exceptions? I don't know. Solid album, nonetheless.
Highlights: Fallen, Stupid, Time
7/10

Afterglow [Deluxe Edition] - Crowded House
The Afterglow tour continues! I had expected this album would have been made obsolete by Crowded House releasing all their deluxe edition albums. Instead, they doubled-down and made it a deluxe edition as well - adding a bonus disc of demos and then three great songs from somewhere that almost make this worthwhile.
Highlights: Anthem, Instinct, Everything is Good For You
6/10

Aggression - Various Artists
I'm not sure who put this on iTunes, to be honest, because I thought the album would be called WWF Aggression? And also, it is spelled "Agression" in iTunes?? Anyways, I didn't purchase the whole thing - just the Run-DMC remix of the D-Generation X theme song. It's my theme song now.
10/10

Aladdin Sane - David Bowie
David Bowie was the man. But, I actually don't recall the last time I listened to this album! I know it's iconic and all that, but I've never thought this was Bowie's best work. Definitely some killer stuff, and the lyrics to Time are just brilliantly bizarre.
Highlights: Watch That Man, Cracked Actor, Time, Let's Spend the Night Together, The Jean Genie
7.5/10

Aladdin Sane [30th Anniversary Bonus Disc] - David Bowie
This is some singles versions and live songs. The version of All The Young Dudes here is definitely not the best version. John, I'm Only Dancing seems to be my jam today!
Highlights: John, I'm Only Dancing [Saxophone Version]
6.5/10

Album - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Ooooh yeah! I love Joan Jett so much - a true pioneer and just a total badass. This album came after the success of I Love Rock'n Roll and feels a lot more raw, more rough. More punk rock. Well, the original songs do; the cover songs are all much more polished, which seems to be a constant with Joan Jett. Many songs that are just insulting a dude or dudes, so if you were a guy around Jett at this time, you should feel bad. I'm not a fan of Star, Star, personally. Otherwise this has become my favourite Joan Jett album over the years. This album is also a reminder that I need to split out the bonus tracks from these Joan Jett albums, because Had Enough is a perfect album ender and the bonus tracks after kill the vibe (and go on way too long).
Highlights: Fake Friends, Everyday People, A Hundred Feet Away, Secret Love, Coney Island Whitefish, Had Enough
7.5/10 (I'd easily go to 8 without the bonus tracks)

"Albums" listened to so far: 17