2025 in 2025: Day 190

1st Diary - Miccie

This is purely the Ayu written Diary. Now she hates him, she should take it back and re-record it. But go back in time and get 2015 Ayu to do the vocals. It is a very typical Ayu-type of ballad.

8/10

2 of Us [BLUE] -14 Re: SINGLES- - Do As Infinity

Classic J-Pop re-recorded acoustically. Honestly, a great way to lift these songs out of the dated production they were originally subjected to. 

Highlights: 1/100, Yesterday & Today, For the future, We are.

7/10

2 of Us [RED] -14 Re: SINGLES- - Do As Infinity

More of the previous. I am not sure which came first and which was the follow up. Or maybe they were released at the same time? Talk to me about your problems.

Highlights: 本日ハ晴天ナリ, 誓い, 冒険者たち, Week!

7/10

2NE1 1st Mini Album - 2NE1

I do not have the whole thing, but I have half of it on the album that is coming up next. And then I also have a couple of songs on both albums. And a bunch missing from this album? Someone get CL to beat with her baseball bat and earn that WWE title.

Highlights: I Don't Care, In The Club

8/10

2NE1 Best Collection -Korea Edition- - 2NE1

Sure, it all sounds a bit dated now, but when these young ladies say they are the best, you better believe they are not talking lies. 

Highlights: I Am The Best, Ugly, Happy, Lonely

8/10

3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul

Late-80s funky hip-hop and a sampling masterpiece. I find the messages confusing, but the groove is so funky.

Highlights: Me Myself and I, Potholes in My Lawn, Ghetto Thang, Buddy

7.5/10

4:13 Dream - The Cure

Where the self-titled album was an attempt at being 'heavy' and aligning with the fashion of the time (namely, bands that were post-punk bands that were heavily influenced by The Cure), this album is bit more of a blend of pop and darkwave. So a bit more of The Cure proper. It comes up short, but there are some standout songs and an epic intro, like usual.

Highlights: Underneath the Stars, The Hungry Ghost, It's Over, The Real Snow White

7.5/10

4:20/20 - DJ Reggie

Someone should have explained to DRA that mastering this stuff to the same level would have been really beneficial. It all still would have been awful garbage, but at least awful garbage that was not changing volume levels track to track - thus giving me more reasons to hate it.

Highlights: No Ticket No Laundry No Cry

4/10

5-Star - Stray Kids

The usual madness with a touch of rock in parts. 

Highlights: DLC, Mixtape: Time Out, S-Class, ITEM

7/10

7 - Enrique Iglesias

This is such straight-forward pop. There really is not anything super outstanding, but it also is all very catchy and harmless. Nope, I forgot about Roamer! That is one of Enrique's very best ballad-type songs. And then there is something that could almost be considered a reworking of an AC/DC song. Honestly, this album is just enjoyable and easy to listen to.

Highlights: Roamer, You Rock Me, Be Yourself, Addicted

7.5/10

7 Minutes in Heaven - Pornography

Super fun super fast punk rock. Out of all the DRA albums and projects I have listened to this year, this album may well hold up the best. Probably because he is hiding on drums so I do not have to listen to his voice - but when you have a song with a chorus "Punch him in the nuts", it is clear he was involved in the songwriting.

Highlights: Last Night at the Opera, Violent Conversion, Punch Him, Fake Snake Real Pony

8/10

7 Seconds: The Best of Youssou N'Dour - Youssou N'Dour

I only have the single Seven Seconds with Neneh Cherry. Decent song. Their voices blend together pretty well.

8/10

8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture - Various Artists

Almost like a sampler of Eminem and the crew on his new label. Considering that includes D12 and Obie Trice, that is not such a bad thing. Then you get Gang Starr, Jay-Z, NaS and Xzibit as well? Yeah, this is a SOLID hip-hop soundtrack.

Highlights: Rap Game - D12, R.A.K.I.M. - Rakim, Rabbit Run - Eminem, Lose Yourself - Eminem

8/10

10 Things I Hate About You (Music From The Motion Picture) - Various Artists

This is purely Letters to Cleo's cover of I Want You to Want Me. Honestly, I can never tell which version I prefer, because this one just rocks out so well.

10/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1920

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 186

Wild and Peaceful - Kool & The Gang

This is purely Jungle Boogie. Get down, get down! So much funk in here...

10/10

Wild Cherry - Wild Cherry

Lots of funky guitars going on here. The best part is taking their biggest (and only?) hit and just playing it backwards to create another song. AND THEN just playing it a bit slower to make ANOTHER song.

Highlights: Play That Funky Music, Get It Up, Don't Go Near the Water, I Feel Sanctified

7.5/10

Wild Mood Swings - The Cure

This is their most full on pop album, but not really normal "pop"; more like a weird mish-mash of 80s pop and 90s silliness. Lots of big horns and strings and weird endings. And, honestly, most of it comes off as a bit sterile.

Highlights: Want, Mint Car, Gone!, Numb

7/10

Wild Ones - Flo Rida

Almost every song has the same beat. It is the sort of music I would imagine Enrique and Pitbull listening to in the club while drinking and partying with young ladies. Not too young!

Highlights: Wild Ones, Run, I Cry, Good Feeling

7/10

Wild Planet - The B-52's

This is kind of like very early The Cure if they were making quirky pop music. Fred delivers his vocals the way John Mulaney delivers comedy.

Highlights: Private Idaho, Party Out of Bounds, Devil in My Car, Runnin' Around

7.5/10

Will You Marry Me? (feat. Bizniz) [Single] - Lee Seung Gi

It has been a while since we played 'random K-pop song of the day'. This is very fun, but also very touching, and then features a rapper telling his lady to marry him.

8/10

Willow Lane - Ryan Adams

Another Ryan Adams single from when he was flooding the market with music and growing more insufferable (publicly - obviously he had been that way privately forever). And these songs are easy to ignore.

Highlights: There are only two very average songs

6/10

Wish - The Cure

This is my least favourite album by The Cure, because the album features an ugly logo that only calls them "Cure". It is also one of my favourite albums by The Cure, because the music is a wonderful blend of sprawling dark epics and cheesy pop songs.

Highlights: A Letter to Elise, Doing The Unstuck, Trust, High

8/10

With The Beatles - The Beatles

Hot take: Harrison's songs on here may be the best. Sure, they were just covers, but they rock the most. The rest of the album is fairly standard covers and some decent Lennon/McCartney numbers.

Highlights: Roll Over Beethoven, Don't Bother Me, It Won't Be Long, You Really Got a Hold On Me

7/10

Wither Blister Burn & Peel - Stabbing Westward

Oh my! I had actually forgotten about this album and just how much it stomps! A bit less dark and brooding than Darkest Days, while a bit heavier and industrial and angrier. Christopher Hall's vocals are just massive. 

Highlights: Shame, Don't Believe, So Wrong, Falls Apart

7.5/10

The Wizard of Oz - Meco

I guess it is about time I had Meco improve a classic soundtrack again. This one is still super disco, but also somewhat hilariously silly - mostly because of the Munchkins singing to disco beats.

Highlights: Ding-Dong The Witch is Dead, Over the Rainbow, We're Off to See The Wizard

6.5/10

Wolves - NoisyCell

Massive dance rock good times? All rather epic and massive and a good time - I am not sure if I have actually listened to this album before and I should listen to it more!

Highlights: M.R.W., Wolves, Letter, 虹霓

7.5/10

Wonderwall Music - George Harrison

The first solo Beatle album is an instrumental piece, with various influences like traditional Indian music and honky tonk and old American Western? There are a couple of tracks that do very much sound like George Harrison, as well. Pretty chill.

Highlights: Party Seacombe, Ski-ing, Drilling a Home, Wonderwall to Be Here

6/10

Woodface - Crowded House

Some times I think I expected more from a Finn brothers collaboration, but it gave us a few outstanding songs on here amongst the very mediocre everything else, so I guess it was worth it?

Highlights: Weather With You, Chocolate Cake, Four Seasons in One Day, How Will You Go

7/10

Word Gets Around - Stereophonics

I understand why I have the song Traffic - I used to do this one live and it is a darn great song. But why I do not have the rest of the album is wild mystery to me and I am adding it to the list of albums to sort out after this.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1860

FREE PALESTINE

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 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

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 166

Some Time in New York City - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

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

"Albums" listened to so far: 1565

FREE PALESTINE

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

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 160

The Scandalous Sex Suite - Prince

Remixes of Scandalous from the Batman soundtrack. One has a big extended guitar solo, one has Kim Basinger talking like Prince is trying to mack on her.

Highlights: That big guitar solo?

6.5/10

Scary Monsters - David Bowie

80s Bowie is just a lot of fun with his oddity. And funky basslines. 

Highlights: Ashes to Ashes, Fashion, Kingdom Come, Teenage Wildlife

7/10

Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters

Is this gayest album of 2004? Turning Pink Floyd into a club dance song would certainly suggest that. The whole thing just constantly switches between Elton John doing 70s pop and late 90s club remixes. 

Highlights: Music is the Victim, Take Your Mama Out, Filthy/Gorgeous, Laura

6.5/10

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

Super hipster indie rock all the way, but some of it is pretty good. Especially the songs performed by the bands in the movie. I would totally go to a Sex Bob-omb concert.

Highlights: We Are Sex-Bob-omb - Sex Bob-omb, Black Sheep - Metric, Teenage Dream - T-Rex, Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl - Broken Social Scene

6.5/10

Scoundrel Days - a-ha

More of the usual from these dudes, somewhat darker? It was the mid-90s, so everyone was on that kick, but it is still kind of a mature pop thing.

Highlights: Cry Wolf, Manhattan Skyline, Scoundrel Days, The Swing of Things

7/10

Scream & Shout [Single] - will.i.am

It says Britney Spears is here, but is that her doing the British speaking voice? Repetitive trash. Which could apply to almost every song by will.i.am or Britney Spears.

4/10

Sea Change - Beck

This was the album that got me interested in Beck; it is more acoustic and introspective than anything else he had released to that point, and that was the sort of thing I saw myself doing. There are some good songs, but some of it is a bit... uninteresting. All very chill. Particularly compared to his other work.

Highlights: Sunday Sun, Lost Cause, Lonesome Tears

6/10

Second Sighting - Frehley's Comet

Nothing as catchy as the debut Frehley's Comet album, but still pretty decent Ace Frehley rock album. His style never changes. And that was a good thing. RIP Ace!!!

Highlights: Insane, It's Over Now, Loser in a Fight, Juvenile Delinquent

7/10

Secret - Ayumi Hamasaki

Big beats. Big strings. Big rock guitars. Big hooks. Big ballads. Big feels. Big anthems. If I ever met an Ayu fan that did not love this album, I would be big skeptical of them. 

Highlights: Startin', Born to Be..., kiss o' kill, BLUE BIRD, Beautiful Fighters

9/10

Secret Samadhi - Live

This was Live trying to be a bit darker and edgier and just ending up being noisier and messier. And half these songs genuinely sound the same. Some really lame lyrics and even lamer guitar solos.

Highlights: Graze, Lakini's Juice, Gas Hed Goes West

6/10

SEE YOU - BiSH

Ah I missed BiSH! BiSH is OVER episode something seven? For every great month, there was a really average month. This was one of the latter.

Highlights: I am wasting my time with this marathon when I could be listening to better BiSH

6/10

Seeker Lover Keeper - Seeker Lover Keeper

Three of Australia's top indie folk women unite to make a super group of indie folk women and the result is... amazing lyrics and killer harmonies. I would say it is possibly a little underwhelming, but honestly it is pretty much what it says it is on the box. And I will always have all the heart emojis for Sarah Blasko.

Highlights: Even Though I'm a Woman, Light All My Lights, Bridges Burned, We Will Know What It Is

7/10

Send Away the Tigers - Manic Street Preachers

The most consistent rock album by the Manics. It is just straight up Summer rock, like they have been listening to ELLEGARDEN all Summer like me! Except Summer is only just beginning. And replace actual Summer lyrics with a communist manifesto.

Highlights: Your Love Alone is Not Enough, Indian Summer, The Second Great Depression, Rendition, Autumnsong

9/10

Seventeen Seconds - The Cure

Well, this sure is a change of pace. The REAL first album by The Cure. Lots of dark space and atmosphere and clean guitars.

Highlights: A Forest, Seventeen Seconds, Play For Today

7/10

SEX AND LOVE - Enrique Iglesias

Enrique and every guest artist he could find! And Pitbull just hanging around as usual. Some of this is just by the numbers, but some of it is a full on PARTY! And the ballads are pretty much all perfection.

Highlights: Bailando, There Goes My Baby, El Perdedor, Physical, Heart Attack

7/10

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

I gave a detailed review of this album waaaay back in the day! And I still maintain it is overrated.

Highlights: A Day in the Life, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, With a Little Help from My Friends, Sgt, Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1485

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 155

Remember you - Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayu getting some edge and telling her haters to Fuck Off. Quite literally. It is funny; I tend to get in my head that this album is not great, but actually it kind of is? And even if it is not, VIBEES is possibly a top ten sexy bitch track if ever I heard one. I could genuinely listen to that all day.

Highlights: VIBEES, 23rd Monster, (NOT) Remember you, Dreamed a Dream

7.5/10

Remixes 1982-1990 - The Cure

This is actually somewhat of an interesting compilation. The extended mixes are basically the same songs with unnecessarily long intros, which kind of works with Pictures of You (at least this is actually extended this time - by all of 30 seconds). But why can we not get the normal 'New Vocal' mix of Boys Don't Cry, when he is happy to give us the remix version? 

Highlights: Pictures of You (Extended Version 1990), Primary (Red Mix 1990), Close to Me (Extended Mix 1985), Boys Don't Cry (New Voice Club Mix 1986)

7/10

Renegades - Rage Against the Machine

Kind of proof of my whole 'just do one album and bounce' theory with these guys. They could have just recorded all these covers as The Renegades or something, maybe brought in Chuck D to help out? Because these dudes turning all these hip-hop songs in to heavy rock is pretty darn dope.

Highlights: Pistol Grip Pump, How I Could Just Kill a Man, Renegades of Funk, Maggie's Farm

7/10

Republica - Republica

Haha this is so dated - sounds even older than it actually is, like early 90s techno mixed with Britpop or something. So it kind of sounds like 1999 J-Pop. Holy cow that original version of Ready to Go is surprisingly terrible!

Highlights: Drop Dead Gorgeous, Ready to Go (U.S. Mix), Holly

6/10

Return Of The Bumpasaurus - Sir Mix-A-Lot

Oh man, 90s hip-hop really was rife with homophobia and transphobia. And monstrous bass.

Highlights: Aunt Thomasina, You Can Have Her, Jump On It, Funk For Da Blvd.

6/10

Return of the Champions - Queen + Paul Rodgers

I have no issue with Queen bringing in Paul Rodgers; Brian May and Roger Taylor clearly wanted to get back to performing together and these guys made a decent enough album together. It just sometimes Rodgers' voice does not quite suit the classic Queen songs. Some of them he really does! Not even Brian May's massive guitar can save Feel Like Makin' Love from sounding super country. 

Highlights: Radio Ga Ga, 39, I'm In Love With My Car, These Are the Days of Our Lives

7/10

Return of the Space Cowboy - Jamiroquai

Old school funk acid jazz. This is the kind of album that makes me wish I was a better bass player, because Stuart Zender is the man!

Highlights: Light Years, Just Another Story, Manifest Destiny, Space Cowboy

7/10

Revenge - Kiss

Hand down the best 90s album from Kiss. Featuring the best song of the 90s by any band? Rock out with your socks out!

Highlights: God Gave Rock & Roll to You, Spit, Thou Shalt Not, I Just Wanna

8/10

Revenge - Eurythmics

Imagine if these were the same songs... This album starts off absolutely massive - Missionary Man may be one of the greatest ways to start an album in 1986* - then kind of loses steam in the second half. But is still probably my favourite Eurythmics album.

Highlights: Missionary Man, When Tomorrow Comes, Thorn in My Side, The Last Time

7.5/10

*I decided to check and I may be right - I can see only 1 other challenger for that, being Let It Rock from Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet

Revolution - Kara

Let's play random K-Pop song of the day! This time it is Mr. by Kara? It is fun; very big upbeat dance pop.

8/10

Revolver - The Beatles

Like Sgt. Pepper's, this album always has dorks saying it is the greatest album, or it is a perfect album, or other such nonsense. It is neither. Because Paul McCartney's songs on this album are mostly trash.

Highlights: Tomorrow Never Knows, And Your Bird Can Sing, I Want to Tell You, Eleanor Rigby

7/10

Revolverlution - Public Enemy

This is purely the title track. I really do not have much Public Enemy and I should probably feel too ashamed to show my face on the internet again.

8/10

Rhythm & Gangsta - Snoop Dogg

This only the single Signs with Justin Timberlake. It is probably the last good song this dude released - more than 20 years ago.

8/10

Ricky Martin - Ricky Martin

The best Ricky Martin songs are when he is just shaking those hips and making you boogie, but sadly most of this album is ballads. Which are mostly kind of meh.

Highlights: Livin' La Vida Loca, Private Emotion, Bella (She's All I Ever Had), I Count the Minutes

7/10

The Riddle - Nik Kershaw

I loved the 1966 Batman TV show as a kid. I still do - rewatched it a few years ago and had the time of my life. I recall this video had something with that version of The Riddler going on in it? I cannot recall if it scared me or just made me like the video.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1425

FREE PALESTINE

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

FREE PALESTINE

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

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 144

Poetree Syndrome - Kebee

And more random Korean hip-hop. Where would my life be without it? This is fairly chill - kind of reminds me of Ayu's Nothing From Nothing. 

Highlights: Fissure

6.5/10

Points on the Curve - Wang Chung

This is only the song Dance Hall Days, which is weird because I do enjoy some Wang Chung and do not even know why I would have this song in particular? Other than it being a really cool lowkey groove.

8/10

Poison - Bell Biv Devoe

These dudes were quite the name back in the early 90s, except I only have the title track and could probably only name you one other song by Bell Biv Devoe. And I do not have that in my library either?

8/10

Pop Goes the Movies - Meco

A big medley of movie themes getting the disco treatment. And there are a lot of them. Some sound better than ever, because they are now disco. Duh!

7.5/10

Pop Life - JUDY AND MARY

YUKI and company with their usual brand of noisey post-grunge fun. I swear, her voice sounds so similar still 30 years later.

Highlights: ジーザス！ジーザス！, Lover Soul, ミュジックファイター

7/10

Pornography - The Cure

One of the darkest and most disturbed releases from The Cure. Robert Smith is super cool, but I cannot help but look at him in the 80s as being a bit of an edgelord. It is crazy that these songs are like 6 minutes long and just have the same drum beat over and over and it does not get boring.

Highlights:

8.5/10

Power of Music - Ayumi Hamasaki

Still my favourite live concert. I could happily watch it every day. It is a shame to miss a few of the performances on this release, but it is also nice having the extra bonus tracks. So I guess it balances out? What is up with the fading between songs when it is not necessary? vogue went straight to Far away and then to SEASONS, yet you need to fade between them all and make the transitions longer?? I am nit-picking, because overall this is just all the feels and genuine POWER of music!!

Highlights: M, progress, Far away, SEASONS, forgiveness

9/10

The Power Source - JUDY AND MARY

More JAM, you say? Very good feel good noise, over here. This one is a little less noisy, I think? I will be honest - most JUDY AND MARY kind of sounds the same. Which is mostly a good thing.

Highlights: KISSの温度, くじら１２号, Happy?, The Great Escape

7/10

The Power Station - The Power Station

This is only their cover of Get It On (Bang a Gong)?!? How do I not have full album?!?! Somebody stop me...

9/10

Prelusive - Sarah Blasko

This was released, I think, around the time I saw Ms. Blasko live in Melbourne. I would not be surprised if she played purely songs from this EP. I should google that... Well, I found the gig, but no setlists. Not even for the headlining act. Gosh, it is almost like we were not terminally online in 2003!

Highlights: Sweet Surrender, New Religion, Follow the Sun, Your Way

7/10

PREMIUM COUNTDOWN LIVE 2008-2009 A - Ayumi Hamasaki

Would you believe I have had this concert on blu-ray since about 2018 and STILL have not watched it? LOGMAN is a weird person. Especially because this CD is very good; it features the most epic version of Heartplace (only to be equalled or possibly surpassed by the performance at the 25th anniversary concert) and there are a number of random older songs as well that I am sure were never performed again.

Highlights: Heartplace, End of the World, Naturally, For My Dear...

7.5/10

present from you - BUMP OF CHICKEN

A big compilation of their b-sides Which is cool for completeness... but they are hardly necessities. 

Highlights: ガラスのブルース (28 years round), プレゼント, スノースマイル ~ringing version~, ラフ・メイカー

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1308

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 140

PAiNT it BLACK - BiSH

I have the b-side, SCHOOLYARD, becuase it is seriously awesome and I was on a bit of a mission to complete my BiSH collection... until they one-upped me by releasing their full discography in one big collection. In a pizza box. So, yeah, this is totally redundant now.

8/10

Pandora's Box - Aerosmith

A massive collection of 70s hits, live songs and alternate takes. It is kind of fun to hear the evolution of Steven Tyler's voice - dude sounds like a drunk having a laugh on their earliest recordings - but, otherwise, this is all very redundant. I have all the studio album tracks on their albums. And the live stuff is not that hot. It does have me looking forward to listening to Rocks, though.

Highlights: Sweet Emotion, No More No More, Nobody's Fault, Walk This Way

6.5/10

Panic - Alexei Sayle

Sadly, this is only Didn't You Kill My Brother? Alexei Sayle is very funny AND a full on Marxist as well. Hooray, the fat bastard! (FYI I am not insulting him, it was a song on his sketch show and I am sure zero people would get the reference, hence the disclaimer instead of just writing something else like a normal person).

7/10

Parachutes - Coldplay

Back when Coldplay were kind of a rock band? I would almost argue indie borderline folk rock, perhaps? Not very happy? Anyway you look at it, I have not listened to this album in probably 20 years and I had forgotten that it is actually very good - I have been too distracted by how terrible they have become. Except for that song with BTS. Keeping everything so much simpler would appear to have pushed them a bit more creatively. 

Highlights: Spies, Yellow, Everything's Not Lost, Don't Panic

7/10

Parade - Prince & The Revolution

Bah gawd this album is so bizarre. I can understand why The Revolution bailed on Prince after this; things are fairly minimalist, without having the normal structure and actual music you would expect from a Prince song. That said, there is still some serious funk and great rock to found in here. I would welcome a remix of this album, because I feel like the bass is sorely lacking and that could make a big improvement.

Highlights: Anotherloverholenyohead, Kiss, Sometimes it Snows in April, New Position

7/10

Paradise - Lana Del Rey

LOGMAN: Oh, hey, I have not listened to this in forever. I do not even remember the songs at all. *Cola starts* This song is not bad... *Listens to lyrics* oh... no...

Highlights: Not that

5/10

Paris (Live At Le Zenith 1992 / 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition) - The Cure

This is a very solid performance, and I am going to credit about 80% of that to Boris and his solid drumming - because the tempos is nice and reserved, almost on the beat and not pushing things at all. Also, I can appreciate how different the setlist is to the other live albums I have from The Cure. 

Highlights: Charlotte Sometimes, Play For Today, One Hundred Years, Close to Me

7/10

Party Queen - Ayumi Hamasaki

This album is the absolute nadir of Ayu's career. And I blame Timmy 100% for his terrible songwriting and attempts at rapping. THAT SAID some of the cringe is actually fun? Like, NaNaNa is incredibly tragic, but boy howdy do I love that chorus for that very reason. And then parts of the album - the songs without Timmy - are some of the greatest songs of Ayu's career? Well, top 20 songs, perhaps. So yeah, I do not know what the hell to say. 

Highlights: reminds me, call, how beautiful you are, Letter

6.5/10 (8/10 without Timmy. Maybe even 8.5)

The Passage - Kebee

Our next installment of random K-Pop songs in my library. At least time, I seem to have about half of the album. This is a bit less hip-hop and more R&B compared to some of the other random stuff I have. It is kind of groovy.

Highlights: Where are the Claps?

6/10

Past Masters - The Beatles

I will be honest: this is one of those compilations that I very rarely pay attention to, which is probably very silly. When I do listen to it, like today, I am just a very happy person, because it is mostly very good singles. And then it gets to 1969 and there are a bunch of killer tracks that I absolutely love.

Highlights: Don't Let Me Down, Old Brown Shoe, The Ballad of John and Yoko, Revolution, You Know My Name (Look Up the Number), Day Tripper

8/10

Past To Present 1977-1990 - Toto

I have never really been the biggest fan of Toto. They are seriously brilliant musicians, but maybe there is something too perfect about them?  However, some of their singles are undeniably awesome. 

Highlights: Hold the Line, Rosanna, Africa, Stop Loving You

7/10

Patient!! [BiSH Ver.] - BiSH

I have been waiting for this! The actual end of BiSH and it is exactly the extreme awesome I wanted. I could listen to this again and again and again... Start the day with BiSH, end the day with BiSH.

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1260

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 126

(miss)understood - Ayumi Hamasaki

Album # 1100, three mornings in a row starting with The Empress, and we return to that peak era. This album is one where I think it is good and then I listen to it and I am like HOLY MACKERAL WILL IT EVER STOP BEING AWESOME?!? Like, try and find a better opening run than these first five songs. Then the middle eases up a bit, but then towards the end we get one of her best ballads ever, one of her best instrumentals ever, and then some great pop to end things off. 

Highlights: HEAVEN, STEP you, Are You Wake Up?, (miss)understood, is this LOVE?

8.5/10

Missing You - K.Will

The next chapter in my random K-Pop song collection. This is a couple of light tracks - a ballad and a bit of a dance number. Not bad. Good voice.

Highlights: Missing You, Hypnosis

6.5/10

The Mix Tape - KRS-One

This is purely The Real Hip-Hop is Over Here. A massive and direct diss at Nelly. Probably one of my favourite diss tracks, because KRS knows how to put some lyrics together. If I were Nelly, I probably would have cried myself to sleep every night for a month, with my face buried in a pile of cash...

9/10

The Mix-Up - Beastie Boys

Instrumental acid jazz fun times from these cats. It is great... but admittedly, a bit disappointing. Only because their instrumentals on all their albums were super awesome, and these are a bit more of a loose jam. Still pretty funky in parts, though.

Highlights: Off the Grid, The Cousin of Death, The Melee, Freaky Hijiki

7/10

The Mix-Up (Bonus Tracks EP) - Beastie Boys

Like the name says, these are leftover tracks they threw online and made suckers like me buy. More of the same, but at least the title track made the cut here!

Highlights: The Mix-Up

6.5/10

Mixed Up - The Cure

There are "extended mix" versions of songs from Disintegration? Imagine adding them to the album. And then doing "extended mix" versions of more songs on the album. Would it ever end? Wait - the "extended dub mix" of Pictures of You is actually shorter than the album version. What a world!

Highlights: Never Enough (Big Mix), Fascination Street (Extended Mix), A Forest (Tree Mix)

7/10

Mixed Up World [Single] - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

A few neat songs by the kitchen disco queen.

Highlights: Mixed Up World, The Earth Shook the Devil's Hand

7/10

Moanin' - Mr. Airplane Man

This is the song Somebody's Baby. This has gotta be somebody else's song, because I have no idea where this came from or what this is or even who this band is.

6/10

Modjo - Modjo

The is purely the song Lady (Hear Me Tonight). I do not know of any other songs by Modjo. Do they have any other songs? Do they need any other songs?

8/10

Monster - R.E.M.

I feel like this album is R.E.M. trying to lean in to that whole 'grunge' thing, when they had been some sort of indie rock band for like 15 years at this point - and actually been doing the major label pop-rock thing for half of that time, anyways. And I know all the grunge bands respected them or whatever... but this just does not work for me at all. Well, the grunge parts; the few parts where they actually produce well-crafted pop-rock songs works nicely.

Highlights: Strange Currencies, What's the Frequency Kenneth?

5/10

Moodring - Mýa

This is purely the Missy produced My Love Is Like...Wo. Because I take Missy in all forms, even if it is just her going "Wo" over a big beat.

9/10

Moondancer - Meco

Meco taking a break from the disco-fied soundtracks to make some of his own disco music. Dracula's coming!

Highlights: Love Me Dracula, Spooky, Devil Delight, Living in the Night

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1111

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 108

Kiss - Dara [ft. CL]

Half of 2NE1 unite to thrown down some killer K-Pop. They should have done more together. Or just bring back 2NE1 forever?

8/10

Kiss - Kiss

I have written about this album. Twice. Kiss rock.

Highlights: Black Diamond, 100,000 Years, Deuce, Cold Gin, Strutter

8/10

Kiss (Deluxe Edition) - Carly Rae Jepsen

Girly bubblegum pop and it feels so good. If I gave my wife a guitar string to wrap around her finger instead of an actual wedding ring, I think the wedding would have been immediately cancelled. Also, that would be mighty uncomfortable. Honestly, if you are on a tight budget, there are always genuine ring options that are quite affordable. No need to settle for some hacked nickel wire.

Highlights: Call Me Maybe, Good Time, More Than a Memory, Almost Said It

7/10

Kiss from the Darkness - SCANDAL

The coolest ex-idol ladies continuing their growth with a very mature-sounding album. Exploring different soundscapes, but not abandoning their pop roots at all. And then kicking it up to 11 on a few songs. A.M.D.K.J. absolutely stomps harder than almost anything else they have ever done! 

Highlights: A.M.D.K.J., 最終兵器、君, 月, セラミックブルー

8/10

Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me - The Cure

The Cure doing what The Cure do best; a mix of 80s pop with long dark synth driven stuff as well. Except the album kinda drags a bit and the last half is definitely not as good as the first, but the pop songs here are immaculate. Shiver and Shake is the funnest diss track, where the person being dissed is performing on the recording. Very Fleetwood Mac of Robert Smith, there.

Highlights: Just Like Heaven, Hey You!, Why Can't I Be You?, The Kiss

8/10

That is enough kissing for today!

Knee Deep in the Hoopla - Starship

Naturally, this is purely We Built This City. Awesome song. So many internets losers call this the worst song ever or some bullshit. Clearly they need to listen to more music, because this is actually one of the best!

10/10

Know Your Enemy - Manic Street Preachers

How do you follow up an album that breaks you through to a worldwide number one by playing it incredibly safe? Why, make an album that sounds like an absolute mess, of course! Some of the songs rock really hard underneath all the noise and calamity. So it all gets a tick from me. Plus I have the special edition that tacks on one of their finest singles ever. I really should get the reissue of this and find out how it compares, because I believe it has all been remixed and re-sequenced - interesting to see what difference it makes.

Highlights: The Masses Against the Classes, Dead Martyrs, Found That Soul, Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children

6.5/10

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge - Alan Partridge

This is the radio show, which preceded the hilarious TV show. And like the TV show, the episode where he takes it on the road is top stuff. 

Highlights: Alan interviews Conrad Knight & Sally Hoff, Alan and Tony Hayers take calls live on air, Alan is tricked into snorting coke live on air by "France's second best F1 racing driver", Lord Morgan of Glossop 

9/10

Концерт - Billy Joel

Billy Joel live in Russia. I watched this concert a billion times on video when I was a child. I remember thinking it was super cool. Also remember the video ran out right near the end of Big Shot, so here I am almost 40 years later still wondering if Billy Joel jumped off his piano at the end...

Highlights: Goodnight Saigon, Allentown, Angry Young Man, Big Shot

7/10

KoЯn - KoЯn

This album is so much tighter and well-made than anything else these goofs ever attempted. 14 year-old LOGMAN thought it was kind of cool, which is probably why these guys are still in my library. There is a lot of latent homophobia going on here. And dumb shit that appeals to teenage boys, I guess.

Highlights: Need To, Divine, Ball Tongue, Helmet in the Bush

6.5/10

Kotten - Kotten

I do not even know where this fits, stylistically. It is kind of alt. country, but more standard and less country? So, more pop rock, without rocking and no hooks? Ryan Adam got better, but also simultaneously worse!

Highlights: Unknown 3, Unknown 4

6/10

Krystal Meyers - Krystal Meyers

Christian rock's answer to Avril Lavigne (this was released back when she was popular). In fact, I think the latter even co-wrote a song on this album. What does she know about Christian music? Or making good music, even? That coda in The Way to Begin is better than anything Avril could ever hope to write. Honestly, take out the cringe pockets of religious babble and this album would be an above average angsty teen girl bop.

Highlights: The Way to Begin, Fall to Pieces, My Savior

6/10

Kylie Minogue: Greatest Hits - Kylie Minogue

As much as she has some great tracks, this is purely a remix of I Should Be So Lucky. Which is crazy. I loved this song when it came out. She was popular as a pop star here before we even saw her on Neighbours!

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 941

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 105

Join The Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978-2001 - The Cure

Being a chronological collection, the first disc is mostly post-punk early The Cure. I am a bit conflicted as to the inclusion of a song that was re-recorded here, though. Robert Smith's voice is so different it really sticks out. Disc 2 is where we get stuff that I prefer; 80s darkwave is where The Cure are best. And Throw Your Foot may well be the most pure 80s pop song they made. Disc 3 is also my jam, but it is wild that this only covers 1 album and then a bunch of soundtrack songs (that are all stupendous). But then I am one of those weirdos that appreciates Wish. Half of disc 4 is just remixes and alternate versions. It is fun to think that this collection is 20 years old now - which almost covers the same period of this collection - so maybe we will get a volume 2 at some point? It would be far less exhaustive, considering they have only released 3 albums in that time (as opposed to the 11 they released between 1978 and 2001 - plus all the singles and EPs), but it would mean I could get rid of those b-sides collections I had to listen to earlier...

Highlights: The Exploding Boy, Burn, Pillbox Tales, Throw Your Foot, Sugar Girl, Snow in Summer, Play, Halo

6.5/10

Join With Us - The Feeling

This album starts off strong and the title track is absolute fire. From there, it is a bit average. Still somewhat enjoyable, but just does not quite click for me. Maybe I judge too harshly, since their first album was just a big bag of fun?

Highlights: Join With Us, I Thought It Was Over, Without You, The Greatest Show on Earth

6.5/10

Josie and The Pussycats: Music from the Motion Picture - Josie and The Pussycats (and DuJour?)

This movie, like Spiceworld: The Movie, is my favourite kind of comfort comedy. I love it and quote it to myself all the time. And this soundtrack is the kind of girly pop punk that ticks all of my boxes. I just read that Bif Naked sang some stuff on this and last night I saw her music video to promote Ready to Rumble. Coincidence!

Highlights: 3 Small Words, Pretend to Be Nice, Spin Around, Shapeshifter

9/10

Journey's Greatest Hits - Journey

A grand collection of Journey doing Journey things; rockin' and balladin' and touchin' and squeezin' and lovin'!

Highlights: Any Way You Want I, Be Good to Yourself, Ask the Lonely, Don't Stop Believin', Faithfully, Wheel in the Sky

9/10

joy - YUKI

I consider this album to be YUKI really finding her footing. But her voice had not quite caught up to what she was trying to do. And, again, live versions of these songs are even better. This album is just an absolute gem.

Highlights: WAGON, キスをしようよ, JOY, ハローグッバイ

8/10

Judgment Night: Music From the Motion Picture - Various Artists

From a terribly underwhelming movie came the most insane soundtrack the world would ever see; popular grunge and metal bands teaming up with rap and hip-hop stars. Revolutionary. And, amazingly, it all works so well. A hardcore good time. 

Highlights: Just Another Victim - Helmet & House of Pain, Fallin' - Teenage Fanclub & De la Soul, Me Myself & My Microphone - Living Colur & Run DMC, Missing Link - Dinosaur Jr. & Del the Funky Homosapien

8.5/10

Juno: Music from the Motion Picture - Various Artists

I think I got this free with the DVD of the movie. And I am not sure if I have watched the movie since I got it on DVD. I think the only DVDs I watch are the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and Air Bud? Blu-ray or UHD all the way, baby! This is peak late-00s indie hipster folk and it is barely tolerable.

Highlights: All The Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople, Dearest - Buddy Holly, All I Want Is You - Barry Louis Polisar

5.5/10

Jupiter - Bump of Chicken

It is Bump of Chicken doing Bump of Chicken things. Nothing outstanding. All rather enjoyable in the background.

Highlights: 天体観測, ハルジオン, メロディーフラッグ, ダイヤモンド

7/10

Just Blaq - MBLAQ

This is purely the song Oh Yeah, to further my random K-Pop collection of miscellaneous songs. It is a fun upbeat track.

8/10

Just the Beginning Tour 2017 - Ayumi Hamasaki

This is the tour finale, I think? The tour was 3 parts and I went to the final of part II and then the opening night of part III. So while it is not a show I attended, it is great to have a document of that tour. Even if they were not shows with a live band and Ayu's voice on this is clearly tired. Still an absolutely killer setlist. And this arrangement of Ourselves needs to be preserved for eternity. 

Highlights: Ourselves, FLOWER, Memorial address, SEVEN DAYS WAR

8/10

Justified - Justin Timberlake

When this came out, I had no interest in NSYNC or Justin Timberlake. In fact, I would say I actively disliked him. And his falsetto annoyed me. But Like I Love You broke me down with how danceable it is. And then he followed it up with more super dance fun. I definitely think this album is a mixed bag and half of Pharrell's stuff is tired and played out, but Timbaland is in classic Timbaland form, so it sounds like JT just guesting on some Missy tracks or something. 

Highlights: Rock Your Body, Like I Love You, (Oh No) What You Got, Right For Me

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 908

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 92

He Got Game - Public Enemy

Would you believe this is the only full Public Enemy album I have ever actually listened to? I am going to correct that in 2026. This album goes hard, but does also feel very 1998 to me. The samples are great and Chuck D's lyrics are on point!

Highlights: Resurrection, He Got Game, Shake Your Booty, What You Need is Jesus, Go Cat Go

8/10

The Head on the Door - The Cure

This is pretty much the best 80s pop album by The Cure - a stunning combination of dark numbers and upbeat pop danciness. And it is all quick and to the point. No messing around here. That opening riff in Push is the absolute stuff.

Highlights: In Between Days, Push, Close to Me, Sinking

8/10

Heart and Soul - Joy Division

This is, of course, the full 4-disc collection. Which means I am sitting here listening to a full six hours of Joy Division. And, you know, it is great. Ian Curtis was a mad man. Quite literally. I have to say, I think disc 2 is my favourite of all this; the Closer album is solid and Love Will Tear Us Apart is genuinely their greatest track. When I made my terrible punk EP, it is crazy how much I was subconsciously influenced by these guys in part. And then the whole An Ideal for Living EP is so completely different to everything else - just full on punk awesomeness. Yeah, I am taking it back - this whole disc 3 is head-drillingly awesome. What I really enjoyed going through all this is hearing those little bits of the New Order sound coming through every so often. The live disc does not do much for me, however.

Highlights: She's Lost Control, Shadowplay, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Warsaw, These Days, No Love Lost, Insight

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 752

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 86

G is for Get ready for the GREATEST week!

Greatest - Duran Duran

This is such a good reminder of just how great Duran Duran were. That chorus in Rio is sooo fantastic. And boy howdy do these songs have such groovy basslines. I admit, as a child it was confusing that there were so many guys in this band with the surname Taylor and they were not related and one of them was even Roger but not in Queen.

Highlights: Ordinary World, New Moon on Monday, Notorious, Planet Earth

8/10

Greatest Hats - Men Without Hats

This is purely Safety Dance. It feels not so safe, especially if you have Bone-itus.

8/10

Greatest Hits - Village People

Trump may have kind of ruined Y.M.C.A., but these guys will never stop being enjoyable. Ray Simpson will forever be the better singer, though. Singing stuff like "Don't go in the bushes" always makes me laugh. And this dude wants us to stop saying there is absolutely zero gay subtext going on here? Ray Simpson would never. I should watch Can't Stop the Music again.

Highlights: Y.M.C.A., Go West, Macho Man, Do You Wanna Spend the Night

8/10

Greatest Hits - Sublime

These guys never really did anything for me. I do not really dig reggae at the best of times, and this is full on stoner reggae with added cheesy early 00s whiteboy rapping and record scratches. Like Sugar Ray on weed. Also, every pub band I grew up around plays half of these songs.

Highlights: What I Got, Santeria

6/10

Greatest Hits - The Cure

I should probably do a clean up of this, because there are really only a handful of songs that are not available on other albums. But I'll damned if this is not just a fun collection of The Cure singles. Like, this is pretty much The Cure at their most fun all the way.

Highlights: Mint Car, Wrong Number, In Between Days, Close to Me, Just Like Heaven

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 710

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 69

So we begin the F albums. F is for Fun!

Faith - The Cure

Fun is not how I would describe this album at all! It more follows the D pattern; Dark, Depressing, Droning and... Done?

Highlights: Primary, The Funeral Party, The Drowning Man, Faith

7/10

Faithless Street - Whiskeytown

I thought I said FUN?!? During my marathon 10 years ago, I called this album "awesome". I also watched WrestleMania every day for 31 days, so clearly I had brain damage.

Highlights: Drank Like a River, If He Can't Have You, 16 Days, Factory Girl

5.5/10

FAKE METAL JACKET - BiSH

F is for FINALLY SOME FUN! I am not overstating* when I say this is one of the most important albums of the 21st Century. When I first discovered it, I had the tracklisting all borked and that meant that I am still way more used to hearing the songs in a different order.

*Clearly overstating like a mofo

Highlights: BiSH -星が瞬く夜に-, Primitive, beautifulさ, デパーチャーズ, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

8.5/10

FALLINLOVE2NITE [Single] - Prince (feat. Zooey Deschanel)

Prince turning up on a random episode of New Girl was the most shocking moment in television history. Next to Fonzie managing to clear those sharks on his jet skis...

8/10

False Smiles - Amy Studt

I have had Misfit in my song library since 2003 - long before I even had any form of iTunes. Then I got iTunes and decided to fill in the rest of the album. And quickly found that it is not even the best song on the album! Criminal that the singles were not bigger hits (the album, not so much).

Highlights: Misfit, Under the Thumb, Ladder in My Tights, Nobody

6.5/10

The Fame - Lady Gaga

Game changer. Crazy listening back now and hearing how different she sounds. Like all Gaga albums, it is a bit too long - cut a few songs and it would be pretty darn near perfect - but this is still a super fun pop album.

Highlights: Paparazzi, Poker Face, I Like It Rough, The Fame

7/10

The Fame Monster - Lady Gaga

To me, this is Gaga's artistic peak. I would come out of retirement to perform this album. Or even one song from it. Like the song, I am speechless. Dance in the Dark is life. Is Telephone the best thing Beyoncé has ever done? Shiiizz, I thought I told you - I ain't afraid of you mofos!

Highlights: Bad Romance, Monster, Speechless, Dance in the Dark, Telephone

9.5/10

Familiar To Millions - Oasis

Oasis live in 2000. Liam's voice is rather terrible. Noel actually sounds decent. I used to jam along to this album a lot, because it is a decent 'compilation' of fun songs to play and being a live show they are all in the same key, so I would not have to switch around guitars. Plus some of the solos and whatnot are a bit more groovy on here. Probably due to actually having a real lead guitar player? It is all still rather simple, but, by George, they are fun to play.

Highlights: Fuckin' in the Bushes, Go Let It Out, Supersonic, Step Out, Gas Panic!, Live Forever, Helter Skelter

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 552

2025 in 2025: Day 65

The End of Yesterday - ELLEGARDEN
Nice to start my new year with some ELLEGARDEN. This really is like no other ELLEGARDEN album and at first I was somewhat disappointed. But it actually makes sense when you realise that these dudes were all approaching 50 and their last album 16 years earlier was quite a bit darker than what they had done previously. So there is an element of that in some of the songs, but also some older wisdom. And general awesomeness. Because ELLEGARDEN know no other way. So gawdam happy to have them back!
Highlights: Strawberry Margarita, Firestarter Song, チーズケーキ・ファクトリー, 10:00 AM, Perfect Summer, Goodbye Los Angeles
9/10

Endless Flight - Leo Sayer
Coincidentally, Leo Sayer performing as a clown came up in my socials feed this morning. He was a real character. Still is? This album has character, too. Harmless 70s pop.
Highlights: You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Hold On to My Love, How Much Love, Endless Flight
7/10

Endless Summer: Donna Summer's Greatest Hits - Donna Summer
When she's doing average pop, I find Donna Summer fairly mediocre. She can sing - and her voice totally reminds me of someone else that is awesome - but these songs are kind of there. BUT when Donna Summer is getting down and giving me disco sass, it is incredibly great. 
Highlights: Last Dance, I Love You, MacArthur Park, Bad Girls, No More Tears (Enough is Enough), On the Radio
7/10

Enema of the State - blink-182
This album is teen sex comedy of music. Except I love it?
Highlights: What's My Age Again?, Dysentery Gary, Adam's Song, All The Small Things
9/10

Enrique - Enrique Iglesias
This is the album that caused Enrique to be a breakout star outside of Mexico/Latin America, right? But... how?!?
Highlights: Oyeme, Bailamos
5/10

Entreat - The Cure
This is actually the reissue/remixed version released as part of the 21st Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Disintegration. It is Disintegration performed in full at Wembley Stadium, instead of the original release which omitted a few songs or something and was not mixed to Robert Smith's liking. I don't know - I never heard the original version. Like Concert, musically it is pretty much exactly the same - just different tempos on some songs - and vocally similar. Missing the harmonies and whatnot is a shame. Just once I would like them to go full Bowie and bring in a bunch of killer backing vocalists.
Highlights: There is a really cool riff between The Same Deep Water As You and Disintegration
7.5/10

Entreat Plus - The Cure
Okay, so the previous album was actually Entreat Plus, but when the the 21st Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Disintegration was released, they also put this live version of the album online. So I saved it in my library using the Entreat Plus name and gave the other live album the original Entreat title. This would appear to be a soundboard recording or something, because the mix is definitely not that great - there is at least one guitar track that is almost completely not in the mix, so songs like Disintegration really sound like they are missing something. At least the tempo on Pictures of You is better? Robert Smith's performance certainly is not.
Highlights: What's with all the screaming during the songs? It is The Cure performing depressing and nihilistic music, not BTS looking hot and pulling off killer dance moves!
7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 520