2025 in 2025: Day 177

Together Alone - Crowded House

This album is almost a bit more experimental than every other Crowded House album. Certainly more adventurous; some of the songs have a bit more teeth to them, while others just veer off into jamming and traditional Polynesian rhythms and drumming and singing. 

Highlights: Distant Sun, Locked Out, In My Command, Fingers of Love

7.5/10

Together Alone [Deluxe Edition] - Crowded House

Home demos, band demos, writing demos - we got all your demos! And a couple of live tracks and alternate mixes. It is almost comical to think this is how Private Universe could have ended up sounding like. 

Highlights: Black and White Boy [Early Rough Mix], Tail of Comet [Live], Fingers of Love [Alternate Studio Take]

6.5/10

Tokyo Girl [Single] - Perfume

The end theme to my favourite drama. I have to listen to this every time I go see Tokyo Tower for that very reason. Honestly, though, those verses are so fantastic... but the chorus is just typical Perfume. 

Highlights: Tokyo Girl, 宝石の雨

8.5/10

Tommyland: The Ride - Tommy Lee

If he had never been in Mötley Crüe, Tommy Lee probably could have been a popular radio rock guy. Like, there is nothing on here worse than Nickelback. In fact, the dude from Nickelback is here, too! I just read the credits and there are some hilarious features. I actually quite enjoy this, for the most part!

Highlights: Makin' Me Crazy, Tryin' to Be Me, Good Times, Sister Mary

7/10

Too Fast For Love - Mötley Crüe

From the best member of The Crüe, to their debut album! 

If I remember correctly, a couple of friends bought me this on cassette back when I was like 11 or something. I think it may have been the first Mötley Crüe album I actually owned! Live Wire is awesome. Come On and Dance is pretty cool - that classic cowbell is kinda funny, as are the bad harmonies. I guess Vince was easily the best singer in the band at this stage (which is funny because 45 years later he is probably the worst and has been for like 25 years). I have always dug Public Enemy #1, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the band Public Enemy. Which was very disappointing to 11 year-old LOGMAN. It has a real 70's rock vibe. Merry-Go-Round is some sort of power ballad wannabe, but cannot be taken seriously because it sounds like Vince is singing "Mewwy go wound and wound". Take Me to the Top may have been the first song on the album I liked? And then there is Piece of Your Action which is just badassery. Possibly the most "Mötley Crüe" song on the album. And also possibly the first Mötley Crüe guitar solo I attempted to learn (I didn't understand what slide guitar was). Actually the last half of this album is awesome; Starry Eyes is dark and moody (you can tell, because there is a gong strike), Too Fast For Love is good times with gang-vocals chorus fun, and On With the Show is actually a very good power ballad (complete with hilarity where Mick Mars gets out of time double-tracking his guitar, and then just repeats his solos about 40 times throughout the song). A very strong debut album. I was today years-old when I really understood that this is much more of a 70's rock influenced affair - very Cheap Trick meets Sweet in an Aerosmith tribute show. And Vince sounds squeaky. Man, time flies when you are having fun!

Highlights: Piece of Your Action, Starry Eyes, Live Wire, Take Me to the Top

8.5/10

Too Legit to Quit - MC Hammer

Look, the songs are mostly too long and there was no need for the super slow songs in the middle. And a downbeat song with no real groove should not go over 8 minutes. Now all that said... THIS ALBUM GOES HARD! The pop stuff just goes off, the gospel is next level, and everything in between is just awesome - and this is not nostalgia driven, either, because I had no love for this album back in 1991. I grew up and got wise. You should, too! The title track is the most head-rocking foot stomping hip-hop track in my library.

Highlights: 2 Legit 2 Quit, Find Yourself a Friend, Do Not Pass Me By, Count It Off, This is the Way We Roll

8/10

Too Tight - MC Hammer

Oh we just going with Hammer today? The man rolled up to Death Row and put together an album so good... it never got released. Which is a shame, because this album a serious groove. The fake radio skits are such a cliche of the times, and because it is Hammer, everything is just a bit too long. Sometimes a lot too long. But the collabs with dudes like Tupac are better than you could have imagined.

Highlights: Too Late Playa, Unconditional Love, Hammertime Brings It, Get Up

7/10

Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners

This is just Come On Eileen, because at least give me some of my 80s cred!

8/10

The Top - The Cure

Robert Smith goes insane from doing too many drugs, and puts it all to music... while doing a lot of drugs?

Highlights: Bananafishbones, Shake Dog Shake, The Caterpillar, The Top

6.5/10

Torn Down - The Cure

Another remix album. As essential as any remix album before it...

Highlights: Shake Dog Shake (New Blood Mix), A Night Like This (Hello Goodbye Mix), It's Over (Whisper Mix)

6/10

Totally 80s - Various Artists

A very underwhelming compilation of 80s pop "hits" - would appear to be heavily British-influenced. British New Wave was better than a lot of their pop output. I should have more Go West in my library.

Highlights: We Close Our Eyes - Go West, Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant, Missing You - John Waite, Vienna - Ultravox, Respectable - Mel & Kim

7/10

Totally Krossed Out - Kriss Kross

These dorks with their backwards clothing sure made a few cool songs, namely Jump and Warm It Up. And that is about all I know when it comes to them.

8/10

Touch - Sarah McLachlan

Does this earn me back some 80s cred? Because boy howdy this sure has some big 80s reverb all over it. Feels like it is even more indie 80s alt than you would expect - I do not recall this even being mentioned in the Sarah McLachlan theory...

Highlights: Vox, Steaming

6.5/10

Touch - Eurythmics

Oooh an 80s album called Touch? This one came first! And is at its finest when it gets all dark and moody. The beats are so mesmerising and Annie Lennox's vocals are just divine.

Highlights: Here Comes the Rain Again, Who's That Girl?, Paint a Rumour, No Fear No Hate No Pain (No Broken Hearts), Aqua

7.5/10

Tougher Than Leather - Run-D.M.C.

I am in the minority, but this album is possibly my favourite hip-hop album of all time. ALL TIME. It just goes so damn hard from the start and never lets up. And they really lived up to the moniker of The Kings of Rock with this one. Honestly, I doubt I would love hip-hop the way I do if not for this album.

Highlights: Run's House, Mary Mary, Beats to the Rhyme, Radio Station, I'm Not Going Out Like That

10/10

Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith

Well, what a coinkidink! It is these guys and the original version of Walk This Way! This is their most consistent and solid outing from the 70s. Easily. That main riff to No More No More is so great and I wish I could remember how to play it.

Highlights: Sweet Emotion, Walk This Way, No More No More, Round and Round

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1730

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 173

T is for Time to Listen to More Music!

T-Virus - Kim Tae Woo

Our latest episode of Random K-Pop Song finds us with another romantic sounding pop groove. I dig it!

8/10

T'Pau - T'Pau

Having already established I am an embarrassment to my 80s adolescence, this is purely the single Heart and Soul. Did T'Pau have any other hits? The video sure features the most 80s dancing possible.

10/10

Tailwind(s) - Pile

Now THIS is the Pile I adore; outside of Love Live!, this is her best work by far. A great mix of up-tempo J-Rock mixed with idolness, heavy grooves and big soaring ballads. 

Highlights: FLY, 素晴らしきSekai, 816 not found, 花と翼, MELODY

8/10

Take Off Your Pants and Jacket - blink-182

These might be Tom's funnest songs? And there are flashes of their coming emo peak - flashes only, but the foundation is there. It is a very solid album.... but 19 tracks is just waaaay too long. OH! I have bonus tracks - the real album finished around track 13? Yeah, makes sense; the bonus tracks are shit!

Highlights: The Rock Show, Stay Together for the Kids, First Date, Roller Coaster

8/10

TAKE☆OFF - PASSPO☆

Oh, how I have missed my dear PASSPO☆! I have written in more detail before, but it was always going to be impossible for them to follow up those first 4 songs with anything that could match them. This is not 2017 and Cinema Trip. 2025 LOGMAN also accepts he does not need 3 different instrumental versions of Let It Go!!

Highlights: Pretty Lie, GPP, Go On a Highway, Let It Go!!

7/10

Taking the Long Way - Dixie Chicks

The songs that were fueled by rednecks trying to cancel them for not liking George W. Bush are very good. VERY good. And some Buddy Holly references are never a bad idea. The rest is fairly by-the-numbers modern country rock, I guess.

Highlights: Not Ready to Make Nice, The Long Way Around, Lullaby, I Like It

7/10

Talk Show - Talk Show

Look, I am not saying Scott Weiland was the greatest front man in rock or anything - though he was awesome - but Stone Temple Pilots were not the same without him, and this album is Exhibit A. Still some great riffs throughout, but there is something missing. Might just be the average vocals and borderline inane lyrics.

Highlights: Hello Hello, Everybody Loves My Car

6/10

Tank-top Festival in Japan - ヤバイTシャツ屋さん

Hilarity! The fake metal screaming is kind of lame, and it takes a bit to get going, but the second half features a tale about being struck by a kid on rolling sneakers and one sentence notes about many different animals. All pretty quick and upbeat.

Highlights: かかとローラー, かわE, ざつにどうぶつしょうかい, 鬼POP激キャッチー最強ハイパーウルトラミュージック

7/10

Taxi Driver - Dynamic Duo

This is pretty funky. Like there is a full-on G-Funk thing going on, but also some... disco?!? I feel like I have been sleeping on these dudes for way too long and need to do a serious listen in 2026.

Highlights: 우리는 바보 (Shake ya 엉덩 to da 이), Superstar (behind the Scene), 신나? (우리가 누구?), Candy

7.5/10

Teenage Dream - Katy Perry

The hate for Katy Perry is justified and, quite frankly, not harsh enough. But this album sure does feature some serious bangers. The middle is absolutely dire, however. 

Highlights: Hummingbird Heartbeat, Teenage Dream, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), California Gurls

6.5/10

Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection - Katy Perry

This is the bonus tracks after the album was re-released, because when an album sells a bazillion copies you gotta find a way to sell more! I think there was one more track, but it must have been SUPER awful if I do not have it.

Highlights: Part of Me, Wide Awake

7/10

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

This may well be my favourite soundtrack album of all time! Old school hip-hop/New Jack Swing and R&B jams by a bunch of no namers (except for Ya Kid K and MC Hammer!) and then an amazing score that sounds immediately like it was from a budget movie in 1990. Make no mistake, my friends and I were playing this NON-STOP in 1990.

Highlights: This is What We Do - MC Hammer, 9.95 - Spunkadelic, Let the Walls Come Down - Johnny Kemp, Turtle Power - Partners In Kryme, Shredder's Suite - John Du Prez

10/10

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

Not as killer as the first movie soundtrack, but then the movie was not either. However, there are some great old school hip-hop and dance kind things happening here. And Vanilla Ice has a great moment - just like in the movie!

Highlights: Ninja Rap - Vanilla Ice, Awesome (You Are My Hero) - Ya Kid K, Creatures of Habit - Spunkadelic, Cowabunga - Orchestra On The Half Shell

7.5/10

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

Not the best soundtrack. Not the best movie. But, again, there is fun to be had. It is hard to not have fun when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are involved.

Highlights: Turtle Power - Partners In Kryme, Tarzan Boy - Baltimora, Rockin' Over the Beat - Technotronic & Ya Kid K, Can't Stop Rockin' - ZZ Top

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1670

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 143

Piano Man - Billy Joel

Billy Joel channelling his Beatles influence and meshing it with Americana... does not work for me. And that live version of Captain Jack on My Lives was genuinely better than the studio version.

Highlights: Piano Man, Ain't No Crime, Captain Jack

6/10

PILE - Pile

Everyone's favourite Love Live! graduate with a very... average album. It is not entirely dissimilar to the 女子独身倶楽部 album I listened to yesterday. Look, I am not pretending Pile is some sort of vocal master who could out-sing the likes of Mariah Carey, but she is talented and her voice has something that means she is wasted on music like this. She certainly deserves better.

Highlights: It all kind of sounds the same

6/10

Pinkerton - Weezer

This album was such a bad idea and kind of shows how much of an insufferable pretentious douchenozzle Rivers Cuomo is. He may well be the Ryan Adams of the wannabe grunge kids. A bunch of badly recorded songs with lyrics about sexualising Japanese school girls and how a woman must be a lesbian to not be in love with him. Which is a shame, because the Blue album was fun and there are flashes of goodness in here. Musically. Lyrically it is completely cringe-worthy.

Highlights: Tired of Sex, El Scorcho

5.5/10

The Pinkheart Sessions - Ryan Adams

And speaking of insuffereable pretentious jerks... at least the RHCP mocking is funny? And hilariously ironic that he makes fun of them for having lots of tattoos and he is now the same. That performance on Letterman of Starting to Hurt was really great. Not the first one - the one he did when Letterman was retiring.

Highlights: Starting to Hurt, Mega-Superior Gold, Blue and Shy

5/10

Planet Earth - Prince

Prince let's his guitar rip for a little bit, gets soulful for a little bit, gets his pop on for a little bit, and then inexplicably serves trash for a little bit. This has flashes of his usual greatness, but overall is not the most daring example of Prince's genius.

Highlights: Resolution, Planet Earth, Guitar

6/10

Planet Rock - The Edge of Victory

Hey, look! It's a me! Not actually the full planned album, just some older demos of songs that were planned for the album and a couple that are just here because they rock.

Highlights: Me when I was good!

9/10

Planless Perfection - Hello Sleepwalkers

I do not remember how I described their previous work, but this time at least I hear them as Japanese prog-rock mixed with emo? I really think having both male and female vocalists gives the music a great dynamic.

Highlights: EYES TO THE SKIES, Jamming, 水面, ハーメルンはどのようにして笛を吹くのか

7/10

Platinum Underground - Vanilla Ice

This is weird. Not just because it is Vanilla Ice, but because this should probably be an actual album and is instead a jumble of songs from other albums and only has two songs from this actual album. At least I get to enjoy Ice doing his best Limp Bizkit impersonation. And I forgot that he sampled a bit of Ace. RIP Spaceman!!!

Highlights: Too Cold, Ninja Rap 2

6/10

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em - MC Hammer

This album is a party, no two ways about it. Sure, Help the Children is a bit of a mood killer and would have been a great collaboration with MJ, but everything else is just telling you to get down and have a great time. And Hammer always has a positive message in his lyrics; teaching you the postitive power of prayer, the perils of committing crimes, and that you cannot touch "this". It is possible that I love this album more now than I did back in 1990.

Highlights: U Can't Touch This, Pray, Dancin' Machine, Here Comes The Hammer, Have You Seen Her?

8.5/10

Please Please Me - The Beatles

The debut album from the greatest rock'n roll band! Sometimes I forget how darn fun their early works are. Then I put on an album like this and just have a good old time.

Highlights: Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There, Twist and Shout, 

7/10

PLECTRUMELECTRUM - Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL

Some of this album rocks and some of it is funky. Like most Prince albums. And then a bunch of it just does not really feel like Prince - more Prince adjacent or something. ANOTHERLOVE does feature the most awesome duelling solo between Prince and Donna Grantis.

Highlights: ANOTHERLOVE, WOW, PLECTRUMELECTRUM, FUNKNROLL

7/10

Pneumonia - Whiskeytown

I mean, there are a couple of very good songs on here. Mostly very chilled alt. country offerings. 

Highlights: Jacksonville Skyline, Don't Wanna Know Why, Sit & Listen to the Rain, Mirror Mirror

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1296

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 118

Look Look Look - MC Hammer
Hammer going hard on this album. And Pleasure Ellis is a darn fine singer - reminds me of Michael Jackson in his tone. When Hammer gets his Prince on and gets all sexy, it is really hard to not just think it is parody, because it just never sounds genuine at all. Hammer is a family man. Prince was a freak. These two are at their best speaking on love and peace. Hammer and Pleasure Ellis, that is. Not Hammer and Prince.
Highlights: What Happened to Our Hood?, HammerTime, Who Loves Me?, West Coast Cha
7/10

Loose - Nelly Furtado
I am old enough to remember when this came out and people called Furtado a sellout or whatever. Like JT's FutureSex/LoveSounds, this album surprisingly holds up well. Timbaland sure was on something back in 2006.
Highlights: Maneater, Te Busque, Say It Right, Wait For You
7.5/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Howard Shore
I actually only have one song here - Into the West - and it is a beautiful cinematic moment. 
9/10

The Lost Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists
This is only Good Times by INXS and Jimmy Barnes. Why? I already have this elsewhere!
9/10

Lost Dogs - Pearl Jam
This is only the song Hard to Imagine. Sadly, it is a re-recorded version. I once had the original bootleg version from like 1993 and it was better. Not sure that copy ended up or why they could not just release it instead of this. No one wants to hear annoying mid-00s Eddie Vedder.
8/10

Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi go country! And it is as corny as you would imagine. Which is right in Bon Jovi's wheelhouse. Sambora plays a bunch of very tasty solos. 
Highlights: Whole Lot of Leavin', Lost Highway, Any Other Day, Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore
7/10

LOtUSFLOW3R - Prince
Prince channeling Hendrix and giving us a blues rock album was not something I expected, but I am grateful for it. Awesome solos galore!
Highlights: Dreamer, Colonized Mind, Crimson and Clover, 4ever
7/10

LOVE - 菅田 将暉
Good actor, good music. I do not seem to recall who it was that wrote the songs, but he is a very talented guy that is writing for many good artists. No, not me. 
Highlights: ロングホープ・フィリア, TONE BENDER LOVE, あいつとその子, まちがいさがし
7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1033

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 111

Less Than SEX - BiSH

This is a single that only came with the limited blu-ray or something. I only discovered their existence when watching FROM DUSK TiLL DAWN, where they performed their entire discography up to that point. These are awesome songs and ヒーローワナビー one of the coolest songs on the planet.

Highlights: ヒーローワナビー, MOON CHiLDREN

9/10

Let It Be-minus - Sad Dracula

I feel like this almost had potential? Like, it is clearly a dude having a mess around and still has stupid lyrics and silly screaming, but if DRA had put a bit more effort in, I am sure he could have made a really good album out of both Sad Dracula albums. And, quite frankly, I would rather hear him making this nonsense than hear him whining and feeling sorry for himself. The punk version of Dear Candy rips.

Highlights: People Make Mistakes, Steve Miller & Weed, 4th of July, Until Then

6.5/10

Let It Be - The Beatles

This is the most un-Beatles album, for sure. Unsurprising LOGMAN opinion: McCartney's songs on this are the least interesting. Sure, it could all use a bit less Spector-ness, but I will give him props for how he managed to edit some of these things in to actual songs. Maybe it could have been great? I am not sure. There certainly are some fantastic songs on here, it is all just a bit messy.

Highlights: Dig a Pony, Across the Universe, I've Got a Feeling, One After 909

7/10

Let Me Rock You - Peter Criss

To quote Mr. Criss, "Let me remind you...". Bah gawd that opening track is criminally underappreciated. Fun album! 

Highlights: Let It Go, Tears, Bad Boys, Move On Over

7/10

Let Your Dim Light Shine - Soul Asylum

Ooh I had some songs from this in my head the other day, but totally did not realise I actually have this! Joke is on LOGMAN today. These guys clearly went to the Goo Goo Dolls school of alt rock. It always came across as fake corporate grunge to me, but I think they were legit indie until the success of Runaway Train. Or maybe that was their first attempt at doing the radio thing?

Highlights: Misery, Just Like Anyone

7.5/10

Let's Face It - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

I should have this whole album, but instead I only have The Impression That I Get. Ska gets a bad rap, because songs like this are what make the world a better place.

10/10

Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye

That opening is so recognisable and funky and sexy. And that voice is just silky smooth. The only criticism I can muster is that, like What's Going On? before it, the whole album almost sounds like one long song. But it sure is a groove.

Highlights: Let's Get It On, Keep Gettin' It On, You Sure Love to Ball, Please Stay (Once You Go Away)

7/10

Let's Get It On (Deluxe Edition) - Marvin Gaye

Of course I have this. I am not some sort of uncivilised fool! And most of this is fairly necessary; the demos are awesome and then there are most of the tracks from You're The Man. Which could have been a very good album, as well! Marvin Gaye was special.

Highlights: The World is Rated X, I'm Gonna Give You Respect, Try It You'll Like It, We Can Make it Baby

7/10

Let's Get It Started - MC Hammer

Hammer's debut or second album, depending on who you ask. Basically a remix of his indie-released debut album that no one in the world has a copy of. Hammer's vocal delivery is very different; much more of a shout-style, as opposed to his more chilled rapping that would come on later albums. Very dance oriented. Very nice. 

Highlights: Let's Get It Started, Ring 'Em, Cold Go MC Hammer, They Put Me in the Mix

7/10

LETTERS - BiSH

More COVID-era BiSH releases? Oh wait, Less Than SEX was not - I just got exposed to those songs from a COVID-era performance. My bad! This is an EP/Mini Album. Half of it is pretty average, I must admit, while the other half is VERY good. The punk-pop stuff in particular. 

Highlights: スーパーヒーローミュージック, co, ぶち抜け, I'm waiting for my dawn

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 965

FREE PALESTINE

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

FREE PALESTINE

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

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 81

The Game - Queen

When I was young, I would see reviews of this album that proclaimed a 5 star album and I really didn't quite get it. Now I absolutely do. It is pretty much pop rock perfection with a bit of a little bit of a throwback to old rock'n roll. And a side of super strong funk. Who thought Don't Try Suicide was a good idea? The bridge is great, but boy those lyrics are... a choice. This is not my favourite Queen album, mostly because it is the least 'Queen' sounding at times, but it may well be their most enjoyable listen.

Highlights: Dragon Attack, Another One Bites the Dust, Rock It (Prime Jive), Sail Away Sweet Sister

9/10

Gangnum Style - PSY

I do not trust anyone that cannot enjoy this song. It is a party.

10/10

Gangnum Style/2 Legit 2 Quit Mashup - PSY (feat. MC Hammer)

How do you make an awesome more awesome? Mix it with another awesome song! It is basically just Gangnum Style with the 2 Legit chorus at the end, but that is a very good idea.

10/10

Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio

Sadly, I do not have this full album. I should sort that out one day, because Coolio sure did have some cool(io?) moments. Especially the theme song for Kenan & Kel. That was a fun show. Coolio was a fun dude. Hip-hop should be fun sometimes.

Highlights: Gangsta's Paradise, 1 2 3 4 (Sumpin' New)

9/10

Garbage - Garbage

In hindsight, I feel like a lot of pop music today owe a lot to what Garbage brought out; that whole alt rock with electronicness was not really being done before them, and they really pushed it hard. I always find the guitars on this album way over produced, but I think that is intentional on their part to really work with the whole electronic thing. Also, I heard a live version of My Lover's Box that showed me they didn't really capture the real awesomeness of Shirley Manson. I would like to one day get the reissues, but I am glad I do not have them yet, because I have so much to listen to already that I do not need to add 60 remixes of Milk.

Highlights: Supervixen, Vow, My Lover's Box, Fix Me Now

8/10

Gene Simmons - Gene Simmons

I'm going to listen and review this without reading any of my earlier post to see if my position changes... and... nope. Possibly the worst album that I will not only continue to own and store in my iTunes library, but also plan on upgrading because I am stupid.

Highlights: Radioactive, See You in Your Dreams

5/10

General Ulysses S. Hospital - The Shit

This is probably the least memorable of The Shit's vast and incredibly discography. Seems to be mostly about poo and being sick? And ends with a party jam about sex? But before that is an ode to the poet Snoop Dogg and some philosophical musings on religious figures like Buddah and Jesus and the Michelin Man.

Highlights: Buddah vs. Jesus

6/10

Generation Swine - Mötley Crüe

The popular opinion is to trash this album. But LOGMAN does not subscribe to conventional ideas and thinks this album rocks and has done since 1997. Sure, it is a bit of a mess, and Bryan Adams somehow helped make one of the worst ballads ever (which is like the opposite of his powers), but gawdam some of these songs are fun as nuts. 

Highlights: Flush, Shout at the Devil '97

7.5/10

Generation Swine (2003 Remastered) - Mötley Crüe

Yeah this is pointless; just the bonus tracks from the re-release, because I'm too cheap to even buy a single Mötley Crüe remaster, apparently. I like one of these...

Highlights: Kiss the Sky

6/10

Generation Terrorists - Manic Street Preachers

My biggest take away from this album is it really needed an edit. While it features two of the Manic's best songs ever - possibly best songs by anyone ever? - and some other great rockin' tracks, there is a bit of filler that just makes the album drag. So cut some of that and give the whole thing a remix and you have yourself a killer album, perhaps?

Highlights: Motorcycle Emptiness, Stay Beautiful, Nat West - Barclays - Midlands - Lloyds, Methadone Pretty

7/10

George Harrison - George Harrison

Well, that certainly is a change of pace! This is George at possibly his most happiest and chilled, just a collection of nice pop songs. Some of them really good, actually. Even a song in reference to F1. Imagine being so successful in your career you can just take a year off to follow the F1 championship around the world...

Highlights: If You Believe, Faster, Love Comes to Everyone, Blow Away

7/10

Get a Grip - Aerosmith

Wow, I can not remember the last time I listened to this album. And my memory is really hazy about what I thought about it, because it has been a helluva jam today! Aerosmith with some hard rock boogie really does hit the spot. And those epic songs like Livin' on the Edge and Cryin' are just awesome. Bruce Fairbairn was dang great producer.

Highlights: Eat the Rich, Livin' on the Edge, Shut Up and Dance, Cryin', Amazing

9/10

Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes

Jack White sure does love his Whammy pedal. And I guess he just discovered various percussion instruments, because they are all over this album; marimbas, shakers, bells. It is like listening to one of DRA's stupid Garageband albums. In fact, The Nurse sounds exactly like one of those songs! It could easily be from a DJ Reggie album.

Highlights: Blue Orchid, My Doorbell, The Denial Twist

5/10

Get Nice! - Zebrahead

This ticks all the boxes for what I want in a pop-punk album; great riffs & hooks, singing about middle finger to the world, and just do your thing and have a great time. Even some references to Mötley Crüe and pro-wrestling! In true LOGMAN fashion, I have the Japanese version of this album that features two bonus tracks and holy balls they are worth it!

Highlights: Nothing to Lose, Get Nice!, Nudist Priest, This is Gonna Hurt You Way More Than It's Gonna Hurt Me, Light Up the Sky

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 662

2025 in 2025: Day 80

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Trash...
AKA LOGMAN Does an Oopsie!

So, I spent 24 hours travelling and listening to all this music that I've been working my way through. Which is all fine and dandy. Being that I was travelling, I kept all my scores/ratings and ramblings in notes on my phone. And then the most hilarious thing happened and I had to restore my phone before being able to do a backup. Which meant I lost all my data from the last 6 months - including all the listening history! Now how will I know how many times I listened to ELLEGARDEN and Queen back in December?!?

So I lost about 2 weeks of listening time sorting this all out. Plus all this music I listened to while travelling and getting sorted? You guessed it - I will have to listen to it and rate it and discuss it all over again. Which is a shame, because I am sure my original bLogging would have been super entertaining and full of extremely witty dialogue. For sure...

So let's get back to it! We are almost 6 months into 2025 and I am still barely a third through this...

F is for FarOutIHaveToListenToTheseFTDAlbumsAgain!

FTD062: An American Trilogy, January/February 1972 - Elvis Presley

Another live compilation in the form of an actual live setlist. The recordings for the most part are really good and the band are seriously on fire! Elvis' voice is definitely not at its best, though.

Highlights: Never Been to Spain, You Gave Me a Mountain, A Big Hunk O' Love

6.5/10

FTD092: As Recorded At Boston Garden '71, Boston, 10 November 1971 - Elvis Presley

This show is mostly decent, but the recording/mix is just not great. Almost sounds like an audience recording? The crowd were certainly hot! Elvis didn't even kiss everyone during Love Me Tender. Anyways, clearly the real king of the garden was Bret Hart. Both Boston and Madison.

Highlights: You've Lost that Loving Feeling, I Can't Stop Loving You, Suspicious Minds

6/10

Full Blast - MC Hammer

Really just a glorified EP from the Hammerman; five songs and then the instrumental version of said five songs. Look, part of what I will always love about Hammer is that he works in such a great pop/dance vibe in the hip-hop. But when the man is angry and lets loose on his diss work, it goes hard!

Highlights: Full Blast, Hard Times, I Used to Love Her

7/10

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - Sarah McLachlan

Last time I was listening to this album, I was wandering around Shanghai airport. This has probably been a more focused listen, which is great, because this album is pretty good and at times I really like McLachlan's voice and delivery. And whatever is going on musically, for the most part. It has been too long now to compare these versions to those found on the Freedom Sessions album, so one day next year I will have to do a direct back-to-back listen and comparison.

Highlights: Possession, Wait, Circle, Ice Cream

7/10

Fun in Space - Roger Taylor

This album sounds exactly like it came from someone involved in the creation of Queen's Hot Space album. In fact, some of these songs sound like they were reworked for that album - because some of them sound very similar. Whenever I read this album title, I get confused and start singing Prime Jive to myself. Because there is that line Roger Taylor sings about "rock in space" and the full title of the song is Rock It (Prime Jive). Try to keep up, please...

Highlights: No Violins, Let's Get Crazy, Airheads

6/10

A Funk Odyssey - Jamiroquai

Bah gawd this album blew my mind back in 2002 and was responsible for me becoming a Jamiroquai fan. Rob Harris' guitar work is so unbelievably funky and out of this world. And that bass line on Love Foolosophy is super funky. And then Stop Don't Panic features the sort of funk guitar that completely changes the game. Intergalactic Disco Express, right here.

Highlights: Little L, Love Foolosophy, Don't Stop Panic, Main Vein

8/10

The Funky Headhunter - MC Hammer

Hammer sans MC has no time for suckers talking smack. For the longest time, I thought It's All Good was on Too Legit To Quit. Kids are stupid. Especially the kids not listening to this album, because it is super awesome. Sure, as usual some of the songs are a bit long, and the whole album probably could have been edited down a bit (18 tracks at 1 hour 15 is genuinely not necessary), and my man don't need to be making me choose a side between him and Run DMC. And Hammer for sure wasn't all talk; Redman is on the record that Hammer came to him personally and had him apologising for talking trash, because Hammer don't play like that. Y'all busters should have just let Hammer do his pop super hype dancing!

Highlights: It's All Good, Don't Stop, Break 'em Off Somethin' Propa, It's All That, The Funky Headhunter

7/10

FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

I gushed stupidly about this album back when my bLog was just getting started - almost 20 years ago! Does the album hold up in 2025? Well... yes. Absolutely. Losing My Way is mostly a cool song, but the lyrics are pretty cringe; there is nothing about JT that I find relatable to a broke meth addict. Somehow I have ended up with a censored version, which annoys me in all the ways you could imagine. And it has a bunch of remixes at the end that are all unnecessary. Especially the one featuring Beyoncé. But especially 50 Cent being super lewd and gross. Otherwise, it is still a very great album that I just need to get back to the original uncensored un-deluxe version.

Highlights: SexyBack, My Love, LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude), What Goes Around.../... Comes Around (Interlude)

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 648

2025 in 2025: Day 70

Family Affair - MC Hammer

Lots of preaching and reworking songs from Too Tight (Hammer's aborted album at Death Row). And a song by Tupac? And then some reworking of a couple of older songs. They are not as good as the originals. I like Hammer, and this is all fairly harmless, but I am still not convinced this needed to be a double-album.

Highlights: Never Without You, Praise Dance Theme Song, Unconditional Luv, Keep On, Let's Get it Started

6/10

fantasia - LAMP IN TERREN

Another band I forget are very good. I have another album from them and I always seem to listen to that more, so that makes listening to this now a timely reminder that this album is also solid and deserves more attention.

Highlights: キャラバン, 地球儀, 涙星群の夜, at (liberty), eve

7/10

Far - Regina Spektor

Comments about god and war are pretty silly coming from a staunch Zionist. By the time we got to this album, I feel like her quirkiness is overwhelming the actual good songwriting.

Highlights: Eet, Dance Anthem of the 80's

5/10

Fasterpiece - Sad Dracula

I think after his whole being cancelled, DRA should have just changed his name to Sad Dracula and released music that way. Because it suits the way he acts these days. This album is kind of decent, being that whole 80s college radio sound, but it does run out of steam.

Highlights: Starfire, California Gasoline, Lost and Found, S.O.S., Waiting for the Sun

6.5/10

The Fat of the Land - The Prodigy

Almost 30 years later and this album still kicks all the butt everywhere all the time. Punk dance music at its absolute finest (and butt kicking). That cover of Fuel My Fire is like a whole different banana.

Highlights: Smack My Bitch Up, Breathe, Narayan, Fuel My Fire

9/10

Fear of Flying - Mya

This is just Case of the Ex. Whatever happened to Mya? She was like the whole package.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 558

2025 in 2025: Day 1

I'm still not convinced there are 2025, but hey - here we go!

ABBA - ABBA
Mamma Mia is a hell of a way to start this whole thing... ABBA's self-titled album is their third studio album and is just a barrel of good times like that opening song and SOS, which is probably one of all-time favourite ABBA songs. The deep cuts here are also pretty freaking great. Man in the Middle is so dang funky. Particularly the lyrics about a 50 year-old dude dating a 17 year-old... I disliked Rock Me when I was younger and first discovered ABBA. However, once I finally joined an ABBA tribute band and was required to do a bit more of a deep-dive on their catalogue, it really grew on. But, man, did I used to shred my voice screaming it! You know, I don't often miss performing live, but ABBA really do that for me. Genuinely one of the greatest pop bands of all-time. And this album at 4am just hits hard! First album in and already I wish I could stop and just listen to ABBA all day...
Highlights: Mamma Mia, SOS, Rock Me, So Long 
8.5/10

Abbey Road - The Beatles
From one brilliant pop act to another! And my favourite album, to boot! This is just perfection after perfection. Even Maxwell's Silver Hammer isn't actually that bad! I'll never understand why that song gets so much hate, yet Beatles fans are totally fine with the other trite Paul McCartney wrote. Anyways, I'm not going to get bogged down in hating, because it's followed by one of McCartney's shining moments and then Harrison hits us with some of his grooviest lead work ever. Then Lennon gets his prog going - I do kinda miss how much this song completely distorted on the old master. And I failed at picking the ending again - couldn't tell if that was the ending or if my headphones had cut out. And taking a bunch of half-finished songs and making that medley may well be one McCartney's finest moments. OK, yes, now I understand; if not for Maxwell and his silver hammer of silly, this would be the most perfect album in the history of history.
Highlights: George Harrison's lead guitar work, The awesome ending to She's So Heavy, The Medley
9.999/10

Ace Frehley - Ace Frehley
Ace's first solo album! I don't have much to add to my initial review, except that Anton Fig is an underappreciated drummer.
Highlights: Ace being Ace.
10/10

Acoustic EP - Charlton Hill
Well, here is something I haven't listened to in a VERY long time! I met Charlton Hill and his guitarist in probably my first week living in Melbourne, so thought I should do the supportive thing and buy his album - and this was a bonus disc that came with it. I'm pretty sure they're all just acoustic versions of songs on the album. I wonder what those dudes are doing now...
Highlights: Not a lot...
5/10

Acoustic Hits - The Cure
The acoustic version of The Cure's greatest hits. Man, I was having so much fun until all this acoustic stuff kicked in - too early in the morning for so much chilling out! Admittedly, I have not actually listened to this CD all that much. Turns out, this is kind of fun, too. I'm not crazy-tied to some of their random 80s singles, so hearing them in this fashion is at least interesting to me. And by the time In Between Days comes on, I'm thinking this may be a totally good vibe; no keyboard brass on Why Can't I Be You, fun acoustic percussion on everything, zero electronic noise on Wrong Number. It's The Cure's hit singles - there is nothing bad going on here.
Highlights: The use of Xylophone.
7.5/10

Active Duty - MC Hammer
It's Hammer! And he's bringing his crew of bad singers with super patriotic pro-USA, pro-war, SUPER pro-church lyrics . Watch out, terrorists!  Hammer's coming to getcha! USA! USA! On the whole, the album has great beats and the flow is tight; it's just the lyrics are mostly stupid. And it did not need to be 80 minutes long. Fun fact; one afternoon I was listening to this album (by choice, even) and decided to tweet MC Hammer to let him know. He replied with a fist bump. That was a great moment in life and I will give the album a pass for that reason.
Highlights: Hammer telling terrorists they gonna get some.
5/10

Actor - 緑黄色社会
Bah gawd this intro is phenomenal! There was no way the rest of the album could live up to it - and it does not. The thing about 緑黄色社会, is that their initial independent releases were so fantastic, they quickly became one of those bands that I just immediately buy anything from. Then they signed with a major label and with each subsequent release, their work just got less interesting. And this, their third album and second major label album, captures that completely. It isn't bad - I'm not sure they're capable of creating bad - but everything just sounds the same and provides me with no real emotional connection. And so this was the album where I tapped out. But hey, their popularity has only increased so hopefully they're making bank now. Good for them.
Highlights: Actor (Opening Track - not the whole album. Or even someone that goes by that for their occupation. Except maybe Tom Cruise. That would be a highlight, for sure!)
6/10

Ænima - Tool
Wow. Talk about a blast from the past... Tool were my favourite band in 1996/97 and this was probably one of those 'day one' albums for me. No doubt my friends and I listened to it a lot in 1997. And now, if not for this marathon, I would probably never choose to put on a Tool song under any circumstances. In fact, I just checked and not only do all my Tool tracks have 0 plays, they have 3 skips. All that said, listening to this does kinda make me want to pick up a guitar and jam along a little. Because Eulogy features a whole bunch of great riffs. Hooker With a Penis is more fun than I remember. But even 16 year-old LOGMAN had no interest in a bunch of transitions that range from windscreen wipers to a baby screaming and thunder. The German recipe still slaps, though.
Highlights: Stinkfist, Eulogy, The big meaty ending to Forty-Six & 2.
5/10

Albums Listened to So Far: 8

2025: The Year of Stupid Plans

My iTunes library tried to tell me I now have 2025 albums in my library. Now, I'm not 100% certain of how accurate that actually is; I've seen it split some things randomly and I don't know if it counts those as 2 different albums. But what I do know, is that this is 2025 and it's about time I do a silly thing I've been considering doing for some time:

I'm going to listen to everything in my iTunes library. Everything.

Looking at my phone/glorified iPod, the funnest plan for this is to select All Albums, which is sorted alphabetically by title, and then just hit Play All. According to my iTunes library, this will take something like 64 days. Obviously, I'm not going to be listening 24 hours a days for 64 days, so my calculations have this taking around 6 months. Six months of not being able to purposely choose exactly what I listen to. Which, to be honest, may actually be helpful, because some days I spend far too much time trying to decide before settling on the same stuff I always listen to.

So why am I telling you this? Because, of course, I will be bLogging about this as I go. I'll just keep it brief like the Ryan Adams (is cancelled) marathon. Some of the "albums" may well just be a song or two - sometimes I might have a single or just downloaded a song I like from a band I care nothing for, or somehow ended up with something random. There will also be a whole lot of stuff I haven't listened to in a very long (my iTunes library would have you believe I have never listened to Ten by Pearl Jam). And the benefit to playing by album title is that I won't just get stuck listening to one band all day. Well, that's going to happen a few times, like when I hit some of the massive box sets that are compiled as one album title, but at least it will happen a lot less. Just looking at the first day alone, I'm going to be hit with ABBA, Ace Frehley, The Beatles, MC Hammer and Tool. Hilariously mixed up! So that should keep me on my toes.

As I go, I will also be giving everything a rating so I can update the star rating in iTunes. And fixing any errors I might see, like incorrect years, genres or album art. And there may also be stuff I've never listened to before - and it might be terrible, so then I can delete it from my iTunes. Because my phone keeps telling me I have no space to add more music and I can barely remember what I have going on amongst the 24,245 songs. I know there has got to be some trash in there, and I may as well get rid of some of that to make room for trash I actually enjoy.

So in 2025, let's see take a serious deep-dive through my music collection...