2025 in 2025: Day 191

It is Xmas time! And what better way to spend than listening to music endlessly? 

10,000 Volts - Ace Frehely

Well, it is Kissmas! So remembering the Ace man with his final album is probably the most fitting way to start the day. There is a lot of autotune on his vocals and his guitar solos are so awfully sloppy - especially on Back Into My Arms Again. That is the absolute worst attempt at a guitar solo I have ever heard Ace attempt. And I have watched numerous Kiss bootleg concerts where he was clearly bombed and playing like a drunken fool. HOWEVER, most of the songs themselves are really enjoyable and just Ace being awesome.. RIP Spaceman!!!

Highlights: Fightin' For Life, Up in the Sky, 10,000 Volts, Cosmic Heart

8/10

11 - Bryan Adams

BA moving further to the middle of the road with this one; not bad and there are a few songs that lift the intensity a bit, but overall most of it is kind of forgettable. Crazy that this is actually almost 20 years old now, and it is the most recent Bryan Adams album I own!

Highlights: She's Got a Way, The Way of the World, Broken Wings, Tonight We Have the Stars

7/10

11:11 Eleven Eleven - Regina Spektor

Ugh, it is Xmas - why am I wasting time listening to a zionist warbling about nothing? Because as great as a couple of the songs are, the rest is just super hipster folk jazz. She really was a great lyricist, though. But fuck her zionist nonsense and fuck israel, too!

Highlights: Back of a Truck, Braille, Buildings, 2.99 Cent Blues

6/10

12 Bar Blues - Scott Weiland

Ok, so this is what happens when your art rock student does not have blues rock musicians to make music with. You get a lot of weird noise and just bizarre songs. 

Highlights: Lady Your Roof Brings Me Down, Barbarella, Opposite Octave Reaction

6/10

14 Shots to the Dome - LL Cool J

This is some serious gangster stuff from Cool James. The man goes hard and lyrically still has some fire here.

Highlights: Funkadelic Relic, Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings, Soul Survivor, Straight From Queens

7/10

And that is it for my Kissmas? I gots to go open some presents!

'Albums' listened to so far: 1925

Still 100 albums to go and only 6 days? This could be... interesting...

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2025 in 2025: Day 176

Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure

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

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

6/10

Thriller - Michael Jackson

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

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

8/10

Throwing Copper - Live

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

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

7/10

Tidal - Fiona Apple

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

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

8/10

Tiffany - Tiffany

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

8/10

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

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

8/10

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

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

5/10

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

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

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

8/10

To the 5 Boroughs - Beastie Boys

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

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

8.5/10

TO THE DREAM - The Tomboys

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

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

7/10

The The Extreme - Vanilla Ice

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

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

8/10

To Whom It May Concern - Lisa Marie Presley

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

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

7/10

Today - George Harrison

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

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

6.5/10

Today (Legacy Edition) - Elvis Presley

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

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

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1714

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2025 in 2025: Day 174

Telecinema Project Vol.3: Break-up follows love - Gummy

Our latest random K-pop song is a super soft ballad and that is all I can say here.

6/10

Telepathy - 小玉しのぶ

Not nearly as impressive as the other album I have from her, but still a very solid listen. Just some quickfire pop rock.

Highlights: Say (Acoustic Version), アコガレスター

7/10

The Temple Of Hip-Hop Presents... - Various Artists

I only now have two songs from this album, but I am fairly certain I had the full thing somewhere. Probably very hard to find, now. That will teach me...

Highlights: Up From Da Underground - Xzhibit & KRS-One, Live at The Temple - Big Daddy Kane

8/10

Temple of Low Men - Crowded House

I can not explain it, but I feel like this album is just missing something. I say this as someone who generally enjoys Crowded House, without being a big fan or anything. 

Highlights: When You Come, Sister Madly, Better Be Home Soon

6.5/10

Temple of Low Men [Deluxe Edition] - Crowded House

One of the few albums I managed to get the deluxe edition for - I certainly wish I had bought the others. This is all just demos and live versions. Mostly live versions. So when I say "I certainly wish I had bought the other [deluxe editions]", I do not mean for the bonus discs...

Highlights: Sister Madly [Studio Outtake], When You Come [Live]

5.5/10

Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog

Probably the best album to come out of the 'grunge' era? Certainly the best album these guys from these bands did. Cornell's voice is just otherworldly. 

Highlights: Say Hello 2 Heaven, Hunger Strike, Times of Trouble, Four Walled World

8/10

TEMPTATION BOX - SCANDAL

Peak idol-era Scandal; a whole bunch of harmless pop rock that is just upbeat and... there.

Highlights: 少女M, Hi-Hi-Hi, Hello!Hello!

6.5/10

Ten - Pearl Jam

It was not until my 20s that I realised how heavy the 70s rock vibe was on this album. And look, I am not the Pearl Jam fan I was 25 years ago, and this was never my favourite Pearl Jam album.... but maybe it actually is? Because it still rocks hard.

Highlights: Porch, Oceans, Release, Why Go

9/10

Terminal - YUKI

Like most 'modern' era YUKI albums, this covers all the genres - this time including some pretty big dance vibes. ご・く・ら・く terminal is like some hard K-pop hip-hop kind of thing, production-wise. A lot of fun to be had here!

Highlights: Baby it's you, ラスボス, Sunday Service, good girl

7.5/10

Thank You - Stone Temple Pilots

These are some random bonus songs from what I can only imagine was a greatest hits compilation. I like STP. A lot. But these are not important.

Highlights: Some random live version of Unglued that I found on the internet a million years ago

6/10

That's The Way It Is - Elvis Presley

The movie of the same name may well be the greatest concert film ever produced. And yet, this album is a lot of the things that movie is not; mostly super chilled out country-influenced pop. And I think I love it for all of those reasons. There are some live songs here - and some of them not from the movie - and they are just stellar.

Highlights: I Just Can't Help Believing, You've Lost That Loving Feeling, Just Pretend, How the Web Was Woven

8/10

That's The Way It Is: Live 12 August 1970 - Elvis Presley

Disc 2 of the set is a rare (at the time) concert performance recorded for the movie. And it rocks. It has been a while since I last had an Elvis concert going on here, so it is most welcome.

Highlights: Walk a Mile in My Shoes, You've Lost That Loving Feeling, Just Pretend, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Suspicious Minds

7.5/10

That's The Way It Is: Rehearsals - Elvis Presley

And disc 3 is, of course, a mix of rehearsals and other random live songs recorded for the movie. So why did they not just call it outtakes or something? 

Highlights: I Can't Stop Loving You, Stranger in the Crowd

6.5/10

The Best of del Tha Funkee Homosapien - The Elektra Years: B-Boy Handbook - Del the Funky Homosapien

So not only is this sorted by the T in The, but the way his name is spelled completely differs between the artist name and the extraordinarily long album title? To make it even more fun, this is simply the wonderful Mistadobalina. It is wonderful - did you not hear me the first time?

8/10

The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance

Another T for The?? Fuck you, Tim Apple! Mid-00s emo anthems and it starts off VERY strong... but then they get caught up in trying way more grandiose than MCR are actually capable of, and it just comes off as trying WAY too hard.

Highlights: Welcome to the Black Parade, The End., Dead!, Teenagers

7/10

Theatre of Pain - Mötley Crüe

This album gets a bit of a bad rap. Or maybe I am just too much of a fan? But I think it is quite the classic Crüe groove. Vince's voice is pretty average, but still not nearly as terrible as it is now. I am not going to post my long-winded nonsense from my COVID-era marathon, because I like the album more today!

Highlights: Home Sweet Home, Louder Than Hell, Save Our Souls, Tonight (We Need a Lover)

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1686

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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

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2025 in 2025: Day 161

The Shady/Aftermath Sampler - Various Artists

The bonus disc that came with the 8 Mile soundtrack; like the title suggests, a bunch of artists yet to debut on Eminem's label. And Eminem himself. I would have preferred another D12 EP.

Highlights: Rap Name - Obie Trice, Stimulate - Eminem

6/10

Shamrocks and Shenanigans (Single) - House of Pain

Oh wow, I forgot what the album version of this song sounded like - I always listen to the Butch Vig remix.

Highlights: Shamrocks And Shenanigans (Butch Vig Mix), Put Your Head Out (Album Version), Shamrocks and Shenanigans (Salaam Main Pass)

7/10

Shangri-La Dee Da - Stone Temple Pilots

This is the album I always forget exists, but apparently it rocks hard? And I actually know the songs well, so have clearly listened to it a lot?

Highlights: Coma, Days of the Week, Wonderful, Too Cool Queenie

7/10

She's So Unusual - Cyndi Lauper

Peak Lauper; this would be around the time she was being awesome at WrestleMania as well. She is like a fantastic combination of 80s pop and punk aesthetics.

Highlights: All Through the Night, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Time After Time, She Bop

8.5/10

Sheer Heart Attack - Queen

Such an inbetween album - as in, crammed between Queen II and A Night at the Opera. How does a band manage to record and release three albums like that in the space of 2 years? By being Queen, that is how! This is kind of the filling to the sandwich, and the more epic albums are the bread? Feels a bit more standard 70s UK glam rock - not entirely, just compared to those albums.

Highlights: In the Lap of the Gods... Revisted, Now I'm Here, Killer Queen, Stone Cold Crazy

8/10

Shenanigans - Green Day

Not an album based on the song by The Shit. I think it is a collection of random outtakes and rarities. It all just makes me miss the old version of Green Day, because this just all sounds like that weird period from Nimrod to before American Idiot where it all sounds the same. Huh, apparently there are some b-sides from Dookie and Insomniac as well? No wonder they were only b-sides.

Highlights: Ha Ha You're Dead, Sick of Me

6/10

Shift - ユアネス

Heartfelt virtuoso indie rock. Very much reminds me of RADWIMPS. 

Highlights: 日々、月を見る, 凩, 少年少女をやめてから

8/10

The Shit - The Shit

Quickfire country songs. Mostly about being dead? And we cannot forget the whistles and roosters!

Highlights: Breaking in to Houses (Just To Look), You're Dead and I'm Alone

7/10

Shoot From the Hip - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Not the disco masterpiece that was Read My Lips, but more of an 80s influenced pop album. Which was kind of ahead of the curve, because the 80s new wave sound would not be back en vogue for another few years. Strangely enough, the songs that are more straight guitar driven pop are actually the best. 

Highlights: I Am Not Good at Not Getting What I Want, Party in My Head, I Won't Change You, Mixed Up World

7/10

Shout at the Devil - Mötley Crüe

We kick off with some spoken-word nonsense, because they are trying to make the heavy metal version of Thriller or something. Except this guy is not Vincent Price. And Mötley Crüe are not Michael Jackson. Though I could actually imagine Tommy Lee jamming with him. The rest of the album is pure dark badassery that invokes imagery of these dudes just murdering their instruments. While wearing black leather and makeup. 

Highlights: Knock 'Em Dead Kid, Shout at the Devil, Looks That Kill, Too Young to Fall in Love, Ten Seconds to Love

9.5/10

Show - The Cure

As much of a fan of The Cure as I am, I do not really have that much love for these live albums. The vocals are always lacking and songs are often very fast. That said, I am yet to hear a bad live version of Fascination Street.

Highlights: Fascination Street, Never Enough, Open, Pictures of You

7/10

Show Me the Right Way - Annabel Fay

Thankfully this is only one song - Already Home. I have zero interest in the rest of the album. I barely have any interest in this song.

7/10

SHOWCASE - Pile

Talk about big heavy guitars - some of these songs are borderline thrash, but then those dancey pop beats make it... something else. It is mostly fairly by the numbers, but Pile's vocals at least lift a few of the songs emotionally.

Highlights: Cliche, Brownie Kiss, Go My Way, Lost Paradise

6.5/10

Shred - Various Artists

I am not a snowboarder, so I do not know if this music would make for a good soundtrack while "shredding" a mountainside. However, I will say that these late 90s/early 00s dance jams and remixes of dance jams will provide you with some solid upbeat energy to do what you need to do; dancing, raving, gaming, doing the housework, taking ecstasy and going to the supermarket. Whatever you deem appropriate.

Highlights: What's On Your Mind (Milk & Sugar Remix) - Wackside, Reach Out - Midfield General (Featuring Linda Lewis), Theme From "Gutbuster" - Bentley Rhythm Ace

6.5/10

Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins

You know, this is a really hard album to grade; musically it is an absolute tour de force and a testament to the production of Butch Vig, however vocally it is the sonic equivalent of having a frozen metal spoon forced up your nasal cavity.

Highlights: Cherub Rock, Mayonaise, Geek U.S.A., Luna

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1500

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2025 in 2025: Day 147

Pulse - Pink Floyd

In a supreme shock to all in the universe, I am not a fan of Pink Floyd. But I am fan of the song Comfortably Numb. So I have this version of the song. Bah gawd this is one of the greatest guitar solos of all time.

9/10

Pump - Aerosmith

This album rocks so hard. It was actually the first I had ever heard of Aerosmith - I did not even know they were the band in the Run DMC video! Less blues rock and more just massive 80s stadium anthem stuff. Which they took to the next level on the following album. The constant lesson of this marathon is that Bruce Fairbarn was the greatest producer and it is a shame he died to so young.

Highlights: Young Lust, F.I.N.E., The Other Side, What It Takes

9/10

Pumpin' Blood - NONONO

I have no idea what this is or where it came from, but it is fun dancey pop and I dig it!

8/10

Purple - Stone Temple Pilots

Talk about reinvention; these dudes hit it out of the park with a grunge album that kind of sounded like everyone else at the time (except maybe better), and once they had their money they were all 'Hey, we actually just want to make music that sounds like Led Zepplin if they were a bit more radio friendly, but also hanging out at art school with Lou Reed and Andy Warhol, okay?'.

Highlights: Unglued, Lounge Fly, Kitchen Ware & Candy Bars, Big Empty

8.5/10

Purple Rain - Prince & The Revolution

When I listen to this album on my own, I swap out Computer Blue for the full version, because that is how it was intended and it lifts the song to a different level. Sometimes I throw in the extended version of Let's Go Crazy for fun, as well. Anyways, this may well be the most perfect album ever made.

Highlights: Purple Rain, Darling Nikki, I Would Die 4 U, The Beautiful Ones, Let's Go Crazy

10/10

Purple Rain (Deluxe Edition) - Prince & The Revolution

Outtakes and rarities from the Purple Rain sessions. Apart from the aforementioned "Hallway Speech" version of Computer Blue, there is nothing that is essential. But there are some songs with thought-provoking titles...

Highlights: Computer Blue ("Hallway Speech" Version), Wonderful Ass

6.5/10

Purple Rain: Single Edits & B-Sides - Prince & The Revolution

In my library, only the Purple Rain album is credited to The Revolution, but they are involved in all of these, so I decided to be much fairer in writing. I am generally not in favour of single edits, but some of these extended versions are pretty great. And the b-sides are all absolute gems. 

Highlights: Let's Go Crazy (Special Dance Mix), Another Lonely Christmas, Erotic City (“Make Love Not War Erotic City Come Alive”), I Would Die 4 U (Extended Version)

7.5/10

Push the Button - The Chemical Brothers

This is one of those albums where everything is just great and I can easily just rock the whole the thing endlessly. But at the same time, there is nothing that makes me go 'Oh hell yeah I NEED TO HEAR THIS SONG'. I think this was the first Chemical Brothers album that I thought lacked that moment. There is also a sad lack of Beth Orton or Noel Gallagher or Richard Ashcroft. Coincidence?!?

Highlights: Surface to Air, Hold Tight London, Galvanise, The Big Jump

7.5/10

Push Up [Single] - Freestylers

Very heavily Prince-inspired funky disco sexy pop song? I have spent many a year with this song in my head and not actually knowing what it was, so it is nice to finally have that sorted!

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1335

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2025 in 2025: Day 134

Nine Lives - Aerosmith

I loved this album back in 1997, but then it fell out of favour with me, your hero, LOGMAN. Well, today I will say it is certainly better than I remember. Hole in My Soul is maybe worse than I remember? So corny - and not in the usual way I like. I guess this was the start of them writing trite ballads and thinking that was all they needed to do. But yeah, this album feels kind of like an end of an era, while also being the start of another. 

Highlights: Ain't That a Bitch, Full Circle, Fallen Angels, Attitude Adjustment

7/10

Nirvana - Nirvana

Really, just call it a best of or greatest hits and call it day, guys! And IMO you could have left the Unplugged tracks in your suitcase. 

Highlights: You Know You're Right, Heart-Shaped Box, Pennyroyal Tea

8/10

No Code - Pearl Jam

Is this some sort of 90s morning? Edgelord LOGMAN always said this was the best Pearl Jam album, back when Pearl Jam was his favourite band. I am not sure how much edge someone has to consider this band to be the best - and especially an album as bland as this. Sure, there are a couple of really stand out moments, but the rest is just... here. Eddie Vedder is at his mumbley worst for half the time. And where the hell was Mike McCready?

Highlights: In My Tree, Present Tense, Habit, Who You Are

7/10

No Jacket Required - Phil Collins

I only have two songs from this album. By this point my 80s cred is in negative balance. In my defence, these are absolutely killer songs. Certainly an album that I need to complete at some point.

Highlights: Don't Lose My Number, Take Me Home

10/10

No Name Face - Lifehouse

Just... yawn. Their best song is not even on this album.

Highlights: Hanging By a Moment

6/10

No Shadow (Paxam Singles Series, Vol. 5) - Ryan Adams

When he stole my title, I knew it was all over. For both of us. No Shadow is just classic moody DRA. It's In My Head is very R.E.M. Stoned Alone is just trash.

Highlights: No Shadow, It's In My Head

6.5/10

No Way Out - Puff Daddy & The Family

So this is just I'll Be Missing You and it sure hits differently on a day when Puff Daddy has been sentenced to prison for being a bad, bad person. 

8/10

No. 4 - Stone Temple Pilots

This is a bit heavier and kind of reminds me of Core... just not as good. Like, really not as good. It is all fine and totally listenable, but there is nothing even resembling a hook anywhere to be found.

Highlights: Down, Pruno, Sex & Violence

6.5/10

NON TiE UP [Single] - BiSH

Bah gawd, this song is one massive epic angry and lewd sonic assault. It absolutely crushes. The "b-side" is suitably odd - like some sort of jazz fuzion thing, without losing the BiSH sound.

Highlights: NON TiE-UP, SHA!!HA!!NUA!!Ah.SHI!!ITE.

9/10

Non Zero Sumness - Planet Funk

This is purely the song Who Said (Stuck in the UK). Much like The Music, it is UK indie dance rock - with more emphasis on the dance part. It is a certified banger!

9/10

Non-Album Tracks - L7

Not sure where these all came from, but they are mostly great songs and a little more polished than your usual L7 recordings. Well, some are. Some are the usual lo-fi budget recordings I expect and long for. Mostly covers made to sound like L7.

Highlights: Gas Chamber, This Ain't the Summer of Love

6/10

Non-Album Tracks - Eminem

I do not know where Stimulate came from, but kids these days will never the pain of downloading The Kids off Napster and it would say it was the 'uncensored' version, but then you would listen and of course it would still be censored!

7/10

Non-Album Tracks - Heather Nova

A whole bunch of demos and live songs - I think she gave these out free for buying one of her albums? Or just for kicks? Some are interesting. It is all very acoustic and very chill.

Highlights: Stayin' Alive [Live in Copenhagen 2001], Throwing Fire at the Sun [Live in Japan 1995]

6/10

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell

It is only Tainted Love. I still have some 80s cred? Maybe?

8/10

Nonfiction [Single] - Ayumi Hamasaki

A total dance bop. Ayu's voice is frustrating in parts, but the production is so basic that it just makes you want to strut like a sexy bitch.

8/10

Most of today was NO or NON. A lot of negativity for one day...

"Albums" listened to so far: 1190

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 45

The Concert for Bangladesh - George Harrison and Friends

Starting my day with a 17 minute Indian stringed-instrument performance. I guess that is one way to ease in to a morning - but it does suit my mood, as I slept later and am taking my time getting my head together. But after that we are in for some good old-fashioned rock'n roll! And seriously, what a killer lineup these concerts had. I enjoy that Ringo forgets half the lyrics to his song. I also enjoy that Leon Russell was just a darn charismatic enigma in this show. He already looked like he was a fifty year-old rocker that had lived a hard life and sang like a man that had been playing in boozy smoke-filled clubs all his life - and he wasn't even thirty yet! Bangla Desh is the best performance of the night, for sure. I hope one day we can get a remix of this album the way they are doing other Beatle's-related albums, because I am sure it can sound better.

Highlights: Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan, Bangla Desh - George Harrison, Jumpin' Jack Flash/Young Blood - Leon Russell

7.5/10

CONQUEROR - BAND-MAID

Oh my, I had almost forgotten about these young women! This album is not as consistently awesome as World Domination, but it has some fantastic shining moments. Some of these songs are like a better My Chemical Romance. A MUCH betterer My Chemical Romance. I need to check out what they have released since this album and see how good it is. No idea why I stopped listening to them. The drumming on this album is massive and I really dig the timing changes in songs like Bubble. Wow, I can't believe I have to wait another nine months until I get to listen to World Domination...

Highlights: endless story, カタルシス, PAGE

7/10

Conspiracy of One - The Offspring

Original Prankster is more of the same garbage these guys had been releasing with their last album, but then they followed up with Want You Bad - which may be one of their greatest songs ever? The rest is pretty standard fare from The Offspring; nothing terrible, nothing too exciting.

Highlights: Want You Bad, Million Miles Away, Living In Chaos

6/10

Conti Ukiss - U-Kiss

This is just one song and I need to shazam it, because the title is a mess of jibberish. But it is a pretty cool song.

7/10

The Cookbook - Missy Elliot

This is big change of pace. At the time, I rated this album VERY highly. Time hasn't been as kind to it; there are still a bunch of awesome songs, but it just feels like most of the tracks are missing a little something. Missy's rhymes are always awesome, though.

Highlights: Lose Control, Can't Stop, Teary Eyed, Meltdown, Time & Time Again

7/10

Cool as Ice - Various Artists

This is the soundtrack to that cinema epic, starring Vanilla Ice. Great stuff. This is very standard 1991 R'n B type of music. So, Partners in Kryme actually did have another song? I refuse to believe they were a real group. Vanilla Ice really uses these songs to showcase his incredible rapping and rhyming skills. And his softer side for the ladies, thanks to Never Wanna Be Without You - which may well be the funniest ballad ever created. Forever by D'New sounds like 3 people playing keyboard, but can't hear the other 2 people playing. And then someone next door is practicing the saxamophone. And nothing says '1991 movie soundtrack' like an instrumental with dialogue from the movie overtop. Vanilla Ice's parting message on this album is he is not down with... peace??

Highlights: Cool As Ice, The People's Choice, Get Wit' It - Vanilla Ice, You've Got to Look Up - DeREK B, Drop That Zero - Stanley Clarke

6/10

Core - Stone Temple Pilots

I like to pretend that this is not the best album by Stone Temple Pilots, because I like to think Tiny Music is. And I'm right. But, also, this album is, too. Because holy balls does it slam! Weiland's lyrics are all political poetic and his vocals are both powerful and vulnerable, the guitar riffs are massive and with thick distortion, the bass lines are grooving everywhere and the drums are rock solid. There's even a Metallica-sounding instrumental in here. And then these guys refused to ever sound like this again! That was also not a bad thing, because they made great music after this, but this album just feels like peak grunge.

Highlights: Sex Type Thing, Piece of Pie, Plush, Dead & Bloated

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 346