2025 in 2025: Day 151

Rarities 1984-85 - The Cure

In a shocking turn of events, this consists of instrumental demos, studio demos and bootleg live recordings! At least by now Robert Smith has moved out of his parents' home and does not need to record songs on their organ, I guess?

Highlights: Stop Dead [Demo], Sinking [Live]

6/10

Rarities 1986-87 - The Cure

A lot of instrumental demos and then a few live tracks. I recall when this was released Robert Smith offered up an explanation that he had compiled two different versions and took it around to friends to get advice, eventually settling on this version. I have zero doubt in 2025 he would just release both discs instead.

Highlights: Why Can't I Be You? [Live]

5.5/10

Rarities 1988-89 - The Cure

I have the full set - the disc released with the reissue of Disintegration and then tracks released online only. Because I do not know what I am doing. This time there are not just instrumental demos, but also instrumental rehearsal tracks! Wow! And some guide tracks, before finishing off with a few live songs. One of my favourite albums of all time broken down into almost three hours of this kind of thing... Oh! This is the live version of Faith where Robert Smith goes on some bizarre rant about how to kill someone that is bigger than you and threatening you.

Highlights: Faith (Live Rome Palaeur 6/4/89– Crowd Bootleg), Prayers for Rain (Studio ‘WIP’ Mix 11/88), Disintegration (Live Dallas Starplex 9/15/89), Untitled (Live Dallas Starplex 9/15/89)

6/10

Rarities 1990-92 - The Cure

Even more instrumental demos! So many in this collection - they really could have just marketed it as a purely instrumental album. A few early demos, as well as some remixes or something. To be fair, the instrumentals are mostly songs not found elsewhere and make for great background music, and the remixes are of excellent songs. I am looking forward to another 3 hours being added to this collection later this year when they finally reissue Wild Mood Swings...

Highlights: Doing the Unstuck (Extended 12" Mix), From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea (Partscheckruf Mix), Friday I'm in Love (Strangelove Mix), A Letter to Elise (Blue Mix)

6.5/10

Rarities 1998-2003 - Ayumi Hamasaki

Part one of my personal compilation of b-sides and other things from Ayu. We get some Ayu rapping, two more versions of WHATEVER - and one of them is much more like an actual song than the album version - and the original version of Endless Sorrow is like a completely different song to what ends the I am... album. Keiko's terrible singing on A Song is Born actually makes it even more interesting? Like, I actually think I prefer this version - BECAUSE of how bizarre her vocal choices were.

Highlights: theme of a-nation '03, ever free, Endless Sorrow [Original Version], 『Ａ』

8.5/10

Rarities 2007-2015 - Ayumi Hamasaki

Part two is, in some ways, actually more impressive; it feature some epics and a few remixes/alternate versions. And a terrible song featuring Timmy and his terrible rapping. That abrubt ending on this version RED LINE ～for TA～ is... abrubt! And I could not really give you an honest answer as to which version of Tell All is the superior version. Both are very awesome.

Highlights: RED LINE ～for TA～, SEVEN DAYS WAR, Tell All, Tell All [2015 Mix], Dream On

8/10

Rarities Live Disc - Jimmy Barnes

This would appear to be from the Freight Train Heart tour - assuming it is all from one show. Barnes' voice is rough and rowdy and boy he could scream back then. So great when he hits those higher notes. That ending for Working Class Man could have gone longer if they had wanted, I would not complain.

Highlights: Working Class Man, Last Frontier, Too Much Ain't Enough Love, I'd Die to Be With You Tonight

8/10

Rarities Studio Disc - Jimmy Barnes

Mostly blues rock and a bit of that 90s rock sound. All very listenable.

Highlights: Broken Hearts

6.5/10

Rarities, B-Sides, and Other Stuff - Sarah McLachlan

What is it with these indie female singers and Gloomy Sunday? I think I prefer when McLachlan gets a bit angsty; she is great for that low-key vibe, for sure, but I am a simple fool that enjoys a bit of edge. Also, low key, we (as in, Sarah McLachlan and I) have a few songs with the same titles. Great minds think alike, or something.

Highlights: Dear God, Song for a Winter's Night, Drawn to the Rhythm [Live], Vox [Extended Remix]

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1380

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2025 in 2025: Day 150

Random Access Memories - Daft Punk

Lots of funky disco guitar vocoder and classic Daft Punk vibes. But also Pharrell, and I do not like Pharrell. It really is like these guys were somewhat burned out and brought in a bunch of other people to help them make a real chill out kind of album instead of their usual full on disco awesome.

Highlights: Give Life Back to Music, Lose Yourself to Dance, Contact, Doin' It Right

7/10

Rap Attack - Various Artists

This is the classic hip-hop collaboration song Self Destruction, featuring old school kings like KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, Heavy D and Public Enemy. Good times.

8/10

Rare Masters - Elton John

Old soundtrack songs, early recordings, some Xmas songs, a couple of demos here and there, and a few live tracks - including one with John Lennon. Which is likely why I have this. When I fail to listen to everything before year's end, pointless massive collections like this will be to blame!

Highlights: I Saw Her Standing There [Live], Step Into Christmas, Lady Samantha, Bad Side of the Moon, Sick City

6/10

Rarities - Kinky

Mostly remixes of early Kinky songs. None of them are as good as the originals, obviously, but I can see the appeal. Kinky have such an electronic thing going on at times and this really leans in to that - and it sort of sets up where they were heading from here.

Highlights: Oye Como Va (Extended Mix), Five Rooms

6/10

Rarities - Spice Girls

From the brightest corners of the internet I was able to find these songs; a couple of promo tracks, a couple of demos and then some remixes. I would say there is nothing overly indispensable here... but it is the Spice Girls. I just wish it were all good quality. I take what I can get...

Highlights: My Strongest Suit, Megamix

6/10

Rarities 1977-79 - The Cure

And so it begins... Early demos, a few random singles and even more live songs that sound like they were recorded in the bathroom of a dirty pub. Some of the studio demos are actually pretty good - I would venture to say this is the best version of I'm Cold - but I am not sure I needed to hear Robert Smith recording songs on his parents' organ. Well, LOGMAN, get ready for many more hours of that!

Highlights: Boys Don't Cry, I'm Cold [Sav Studio Demo], Jumping Someone Else's Train

5.5/10

Rarities 1979-80 - The Cure

This disc is genuinely worth it for the Cult Hero collaboration. All more listenable than the previous disc, but then I never thought much of Three Imaginary Boys anyways.

Highlights: I'm a Cult Hero, I Dig You

6/10

Rarities 1980-81 - The Cure

Poorly recorded home instrumental demos, studio guide tracks, and random live songs. The live stuff is surprisingly decent. And then all topped off with a couple of rare songs.

Highlights: Charlotte Sometimes, Forever [Live Somewhere Summer 1981]

6/10

Rarities 1981-82 - The Cure

What was that? More of the instrumental demos, studio guide tracks and random live songs? At least Robert Smith was consistent in the way he compiled these. The demos all sound much less dark and twisted - just maybe a little dark and bored. Props to Smith for just developing Temptation Two into becoming Let's Go To Bed - I would have just wrote them and recorded them as two completely different songs, because they barely sound similar and I am lazy.

Highlights: All Mine [Live], Temptation Two (Aka LGTB) [RS Studio Demo], A Short Term Effect [Live]

6/10

Rarities 1982-84 - The Cure

The demos for this album are not really so far removed from the finished product, since it was basically a Robert Smith solo album anyway. Just a bit more polished and more vocals. The live songs are decent enough for audience recordings.

Highlights: The Top [Live], Forever [Live]

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1370

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Random Thoughts from a Ryan Adams Marathon: Day 8

The Shit continued

* Slef Portrait seems to be a concept album around killing someone and needing to go to the hospital

* The Movie is the best. Like, I could listen to this a lot more. KING FUCKING KONG!!!

Back to Ryan Adams (and The Cardinals)
 

* Riffage is quite nice little instrumental tracks

* Easy Tiger is another album that gets a bad rap and I don't get. I really like the fact that it is a kind of diverse album instead of sticking to one style. But then I think most of the people complaining are people that just want Ryan Adams doing alt. country like Whiskeytown or Heartbreaker. I like other music so I'm fine. The Sun Also Sets is one of my favourite songs. LOVE the end harmonies.

* Easy Tiger Rarites are interesting and actually fit with the overall sound of Easy Tiger, but mostly because Easy Tiger is so diverse. Strange to have Lovely and Blue on here called France but be the exact same song found later on III

* Curtain of Light (Live at the Avatar Studios) is a live in-studio performance of the Easy Tiger album that was done as some sort of promo tool. And it is quite good. Mostly because I like Easy Tiger. And the random garbage Ryan Adams yells inbetween songs is hilarious (like "STAB ME IN THE FUCKIN EYE WITH THE... FUCKIN... EMPIRE STATE BUILDING". The version of These Girls on here is flat out insane. And I Taught Myself How To Grow Old contains one of the greatest guitar solos on the planet. Ending with 2 tracks from Cold Roses is certainly odd, but Magnolia Mountain is pretty darn awesome here so I'll let it slide.

* III/IV were recorded around this time, so I've put them here instead of later when they were actually released. Listening in this order they actually almost fit with the theme of earlier. Some of these tracks were used for the various internet artists, as well as the Elizabethtown/Darkbreaker sessions. I mostly prefer these versions. Wasteland is one of my most favourite songs these days. III is pretty good, but I actually really like IV. It rocks. Thinking about it now, this actually should have gone before Easy Tiger. Oops.

* Follow the Lights is a really nice chill out kind of EP. The versions of This Is It and Dear John are really awesome. I'd really like to write a song like Blue Hotel... Oh wow, I totally forgot there is an awesome version of If I Am A Stranger on here as well. Damn.

* Cardinology is great. Again, undeserved bad rap for this album. Some awesome songs, some kinda average, but not bad by any stretch.

* Cardinology Rarities are quite fun. Memory Lane is a very nice song... Asteroid is rockin'. I need to find out what this version of Fix It is, because it is crazy cool.

* Dear Impossible Foggy Mountain is just a bunch of meaningless demos. Nothing to see here...

* Class Mythology however, is very compelling. Your Name Is On Fire is a fantastic song. Neat acoustic numbers.

* Destroyers has a really cool bridge

* The Blue Canoe probably could have been good

* Fortress of the Spider God is a pleasant instrumental...

* The Pax-Am Singles are mostly great. A couple of re-recorded songs, some cool acoustic demos, and awesome songs like Disco Queen and People Need Sunlight. Is cool to see this series return (see end of marathon).

* Orion is a sci-fi metal concept album. I've been dying to hear this... and I am not disappointed - just as hilariously fun as I expected. Even includes a new mix of Fire & Ice, which will now get played more than the Warren Peace version.

* This Is 40 Soundtrack contains 2 live songs; Lucky Now, which seems to contain some pedal steel guitar that isn't in the studio version (which we'll get to next album, I think), and Shining Through the Dark which I don't think is available elsewhere - would love to hear a studio version of this. Great songs. And best parts of that movie by far.

* Ashes & Fire is sort of a return to that 'roots' sound, I guess. I think it was just his hearing problems forced him to strip back the sound. Mostly great songs like the title track and Lucky Now (which is just downright brilliant) except some songs I couldn't even tell you how they go 3 years later. That's not exactly a great thing.

* Ashes & Fire Extra Tracks are really good. Darkness is incredible.

* Empty Room/Nutshell are both very good, though I would take the original Alice In Chains recording of Nutshell over this any day

* Wasted Years is downright incredible. Still blows my mind.

* Vampire Weekend Covers are just kinda fun. I don't know the originals so don't really care too much.

* 1984 is the first in the renewed 7" series. And it kicks all kinds of ass all over the fucking world. 11 songs, 12 minutes long. Just so much motherfuckingawesomeness. Rats In The Wall is my number one song right fucking now. Yes I am excited by this THAT MUCH

* Ryan Adams is the latest album. This is my first listen. Really like the first and last songs. Couldn't tell you much more than that right now. Something about this reminds me of Pearl Jam when they started making albums like No Code and all their fans decided it was boring. I'm not complaining, because No Code still stands as my favourite Pearl Jam album. Not saying this is my new favourite album but you get what I'm saying. Or not. Talk to me about your problems...

And there we have it - the marathon is...

Wait, what?

* Jacksonville is the next 7" single released on iTunes. I JUST MADE NO SENSE BECAUSE THAT IS 3 DIGITAL COMPUTER FILES NOT A 7 INCH RECORD. Anyways, this is way more like classic alt country Ryan Adams, though still with the low voice. And then Mr. Walkedypants is just hilarious. Though is he actually insulting John Lennon? DON'T MAKE ME PICK A SIDE!!!

So there we go. 1034 songs listened to. And I didn't get bored, probably because it is mostly different songs and styles. That is why I enjoy the music of Ryan Adams so much. Not sure why these turned into mini reviews , but whatever. It's my job and I will waste time how I want.

I might do this again and compare my thoughts.
Until, I'll be sitting in the corner listening to Honky Tonk Ba-Donkey Kong very loudly on repeat.

Random Thoughts from a Ryan Adams Marathon: Day 6

* Jacksonville City Nights was an album I really didn't like when I first heard it. Now it is one of my favourites; it is probably his most fully realised 'concept' albums, I guess (the concept being to make a total country album that doesn't sound terrible). Even Norah Jones is surprisingly not terrible on Dear John, a seriously awesome song.

* Jacksonville City Nights Rarities are all awesome. Like, this could have been a double album easy. Though it does feature a few double-ups; this has an more 'electric' version of September (which makes it strangely upbeat, apart from the epic guitar solo), an electric version of A Kiss Before I Go, and then both acoustic and electric versions of What Sin Replaces Love. I couldn't tell you which is better because both are great. And as for Always on My Mind (yes, the Elvis son) well... yeah, that is gold.

* 29 is a strange beast; probably the most average album by Mr. Adams, apart from 3 songs - one of which is one of his absolute best. Yes, I am talking about Elizabeth, You Were Born to Play That Part.

* Darkbreaker just never does it for me. I realise in Ryan Adams fandom circles this is the stuff of legend, but I actually prefer the finished tracks that were released. Some seriously impressive random songs, though, like Everything Dies.

* Look Who Got a Website (Dotcom Mother Fucker). Serious. If you can't enjoy that song then you shouldn't even be reading my blog.

591 songs down

Random Thoughts from a Ryan Adams Marathon: Day 5

* In some ways, Rock'n Roll is actually my favourite Ryan Adams album. Now let's see how many times I say that in this marathon... 1974 stands as some of the coolest damn lyrics on the planet, and The Drugs Aren't Working is a glorious rock'n roll song. Hypnotixed is a bonus track but for some reason just makes the album even better. People hate this album. People are stupid.

* The Rock'n Roll B-Sides are generally madly inferior to the rest of the album and laced with far more of a classic 80s New Wave feel than the album. Except Red Lights. That song owns.

* Love is Hell is one of those albums that I did not like at first but now consider to be great. Maybe at first I just found it too long? Because it really is too long. Maybe the whole 2 EP format was actually a good idea for this album. Though I am listening to everything back-to-back so it really wouldn't matter right now anyways.

* Love is Hell Rarities is interesting; some good songs, some weird songs, and then a great song that ended up on Jacksonville City Nights in a much greater form.

* Black Clouds is supposedly how the album was originally conceived - including a few songs from Rock'n Roll. Some diffrerent mixes as well keeps it interesting.

* Love is Hell: The New York Sessions. Yeah. I'm kind of ready to move on from Love is Hell now, thanks.

* Cold Roses is a near flawless album.

* The Cold Roses Rarities don't seem like they are even from the same sessions. Like, only one song sounds like it was recorded at the same time - the rest sound like demos from The Patty Duke Syndrome or something.

542 songs down!