Controversial opinion: this is John Lennon's best solo album. Even more controversial opinion: Woman is the N**** of the World is a great song. Maybe using the N word so much was not his best idea, but it should not have been removed from the reissue. Which is a shame, because I was interested in hearing a full remix of this album. Anyways, the overt political nature of the album is what endears it to me. After this he had the FBI following him, Yoko left, and Lennon stopped being involved in anything that meant anything.
Highlights: Angela, We're All Water, Woman is the N**** of the World, New York City
8/10
Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra) - Gotye
I have never known Gotye. But Kimbra is somebody that I met? She is very cool and an amazing artist - genuinely the best to come out of New Zealand in a VERY long time.
8/10
Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell
I sometimes wonder if there is any song more 80s than this. My immediate thoughts when I hear it are Tubbs miming along in a strip club and having the time of his life. I need to watch Miami Vice again...
9/10
Something to Be - Rob Thomas
I can actually understand why this did not get released as Matchbox Twenty - even though I believe he is the chief songwriter for the group, this sounds far more pop radio with heavy influences from somewhere. I hesitate to say R&B, but there is something quite unlike the usual pop rock that would get from his pop rock band. And, honestly, it works.
Highlights: This is How a Heart Breaks, Something to Be, Streetcorner Symphony, Problem Girl
7/10
Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit - Courtney Barnett
I have never heard a woman "sing" in such a monotone fashion - it is almost spoken word, except some of it is kind of shouting? This may be the most Australian album ever.
Highlights: I did enjoy the references to Melbourne
4/10
Somewhere in England - George Harrison
I think this album is the one where his record company rejected half of it and made him replace a bunch of songs. I am not sure they made the right call. The only real noteworthy aspect here is the song featuring the surviving Beatles in remembrance of the recently murdered John Lennon.
Highlights: All Those Years Ago, Teardrops, Save the World
6.5/10
Song Destroyer - DJ Reggie
More of this? In fairness, it actually randomly features an instrumental piece that I am fairly certain is on an actual Ryan Adams & The Cardinals song in part. I am not sure what it is doing between a rap about going to a Rascal Flatts concert and a rap about... I do not even know.
Highlights: Moonlighting
4/10
A Song for ×× - Ayumi Hamasaki
I may choose to ignore how terrible Ayu's voice is on this album. Instead we can focus on how horribly dated the music sounds - it does not even sound like it is from 1999, more like 1989. But, that does mean the guitar riffs sound like they are from 1989, and thus are awesome? Because that is what saves this album; despite the production being outdated, the music of the whole thing is actually really great. Which is why I would have been on board for a full re-recording in like 2005-2010 when Ayu's voice was awesome. And, thus, some of the live versions of the title track are genuinely more definitive.
Highlights: Depend on you, A Song for ××, FRIEND II, For My Dear...
7/10
Songs - Regina Spektor
Her first couple of albums were just her on a piano, basically doing hipster rap over little piano licks. It runs that line between 'is it actually clever or is it just a hipster being satirical about what people think is clever songwriting?'
Highlights: Consequence of Sounds
5/10
Songs About Jane - Maroon 5
This album is such a far cry from what they do now - much more in a funk rock kind of vibe. Songs like Harder to Breathe and This Love were kind of a little off the curve at the time. And I probably did not appreciate how great a singer Adam Levine is.
Highlights: Harder to Breathe, This Love, She Will Be Loved
7/10
Songs From the Big Chair - Tears For Fears
I only have a couple of songs from this album. Especially embarrassing, considering this has been issued in deluxe editions multiple times.
Highlights: Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels
9/10
Songs in the Attic - Billy Joel
How many live albums does this man need? I would guess this is in New York, because he gets a big pop any time he mentions anything relating to that.
Highlights: Captain Jack, Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
6.5/10
Songs of a Lost World - The Cure
Returning after forever with the most Cure sounding album possible was not on my bingo card for 2024. Because I do not play bingo. I do, however play The Cure albums and vibe out to the sprawling intros and how this album truly works as one piece of art.
Highlights: Endsong, Alone, Drone:Nodrone, All I Ever Am
8/10
Songs to Learn & Sing - Echo & The Bunnymen
I only have the song The Killing Moon. I do not know if I have even heard another song by this band - this was purely because I had been watching Donnie Darko. I should watch that again.
7.5/10
The Sorrowjoy - Heather Nova
Another solo track; it is a spoken-word album that I was never able to track down on CD, but she released this song, The Singing State, for free somewhere some time...
6/10
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