2025 in 2025: Day 196

フラッグを立てろ - YUKI

Top-tier YUKIちゃん, right here. One of her absolute best songs - and thus, one of the best songs ever - and just the most uplifting vibe. The B-side is more of a bit more chill electro groove.

Highlights: フラッグを立てろ, yes

9/10

マニフェスト - RADWIMPS

I cannot help but feel like these are kind of joke songs? I mean, singing about being Prime Minister and then another song that just sounds like a sea shanty or something. But this is peak RADWIMPS-era, so they make it good.

Highlights: マニフェスト, やどかり

7.5/10

まばたき - YUKI

A slight departure, in that this album is mostly acoustic pop rock. Mostly. There is a still a spot of dance going on, but that is basically dance beats over the acoustic rock. Honestly, the results are VERY enjoyable. 

Highlights: 私は誰だ, レディ・エレクトリック, さよならバイスタンダー, トワイライト

8/10

まるごと・りかい - The Japan Foundation

Me: I think it is mostly singles and EPs from here on, so I should be able to finish in time!

My iTunes Library: Cool story, bro. Here are two hours of Japanese audio lessons to really get you in the mood.

Me: やっばい～

Education/10

ユグドラシル - BUMP OF CHICKEN

Dang this album is a really solid pop rock kind of groove and features one of the absolute coolest songs that would make any day sunny and fun.

Highlights: Sailing Day, ギルド, オンリー ロンリー グローリー (Album Edit), ロストマン

7.5/10

ロゼッタ・ストーン - イケてるハーツ

Another free idol CD. It is very iDOL is SHiT. But still not as bad as some of the other idol music I actually have...

Highlights: Distance Love

6.5/10

人生×僕= - ONE OK ROCK

The only way I can describe this is like big stadium emo rock. And bah gawd Taka's voice is just the best. As I said before, I really need more ONE OK ROCK.

Highlights: Clock Strikes, The Beginning, 69, ONION!

7.5/10

人間なのさ - Hump Back

If Josie and The Pussycats were Japanese, I can not help but think they would sound like this. All the best grrl punk comes from Osaka.

Highlights: クジラ, サンデーモーニング, 恋をしよう, 僕らは今日も車の中

7.5/10

人間開花 - RADWIMPS

And this is where they started to turn - there are songs that are the usual greatness, but there are also some seriously bad songs. Like really bad. And stupid. But the good is really good! I just think losing their drummer really changed something for the worse.

Highlights: 前前前世 [original ver.], 光, O&O

7/10

優しい日本語 - NHK Radio Japan

More basic Japanese audio. This time in the form of short conversations. A couple are so quick, I always struggle to repeat it in time.

Practice/10

光芒 - Hakubi

Hanging out in Tower Records trying to decide what to buy leads to hearing things that make you go 'Oh, ok - I will buy this'. Mostly because I knew my friend would love this EP. And I was right. Female led indie rock is right up her Q-Zone.

Highlights: 光芒, どこにも行けない僕たちは, サーチライト

8/10

君の名は。- RADWIMPS

When this album hits, it hits it hard and almost perfectly. More of the score pieces are fine enough and work wonderfully in the context of the movie - so I guess it is job well done there, too!

Highlights: なんでもないや (Movie Ver.), 夢灯籠, 前前前世  (Movie Ver.), スパークル (Movie Ver.)

7/10

夏を生きる - 緑黄色社会

Quite a good song, this one - very much on form and in the style of music that made them so great at the start, without actually reaching those heights.

8/10

天気の子 - RADWIMPS

Similar to 君の名は。in that there are just a few wonderful songs at the end of a lot of musical score. The guest singer does help, but this could have been just an EP.

Highlights: 愛にできることはまだあるかい, 大丈夫 (Movie Edit), グランドエスケープ (Movie Edit),  祝祭

6.5/10

幸せ - 緑黄色社会

This has everything you could want; dreamy ballad, slightly manic attitude and good fun pop. And all with a funky bass and fun synth lines.

Highlights: ひとりごと, にちようび, 逆転

7.5/10

悲しみよとまれ - BiSH

BiSH is OVER continues, with an absolutely killer drum track - it is like a big power ballad, I guess. The B-side is almost a Rage Against the Machine homage.

8/10

愛してると言ってくれ - BiSH

More BiSH is OVER, this time with some straight forward pop style and then a bit more of a punk-ish kind of thing. Maybe punk-adjacent?

Highlights: 愛してると言ってくれ, GO TO HELL

7.5/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 2008

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 195

きみとわたしとメロンソーダ - みきなつみ

Young girl indie rocker. Songs are pretty cool, but I admittedly am not the biggest fan of her voice. But the songs really are VERY good!

Highlights: 神様も知らない, Dear, 本気を魅せてやれ, 君へ送る唄, 

8/10

ここにいない君がいる [Single] - パノラマメロウ

More dreamy female indie rock. I would like to hear more from these cats, because this song is a solid vibe.

8/10

ココロノオト - 有安杏果

This was my album of the year for 2017. In hindsight, it was really Cinema Trip - I just did not discover that until right at the end of 2017, because I am a fool. But this still holds up very well. Green's voice is certainly more of an idol thing that suited being in MCZ a bit more, but these songs themselves are mostly just right in my Q-Zone.

Highlights: Drive Drive, 小さな勇気, 心の旋律, ヒカリの声

9/10

ココロノセンリツ ～Feel a heartbeat～ Vol. 1 [Live] - 有安杏果

Not a bad live performance. I know I have this on blu-ray and thought it was a decent watch - her overall performance was quite good.

Highlights: 遠吠え [Live], ペダル [Live], ヒカリの声 [Live], Drive Drive [Live]

7/10

ココロノセンリツ ～feel a heartbeat～ Vol. 1.3 & 1.5 - 有安杏果

This, however, is certainly not as good as the previous performance. It is far too long and vocally it is quite poor. Which is such a shame, because this stands as one the most beautifully presented box sets in my collection.

Highlights: Drive Drive [Live], 小さな勇気 [Live], TRAVEL FANTASISTA [Live]

6/10

ごめんね - BiSH

BiSH is OVER, part something. The title track is pretty decent enough - just kinda middle of the road indie rock style, while the B-side is a bit more punked up.

Highlights: ごめんね, SAKURA

7/10

サヨナラサラバ - BiSH
BiSH is OVER, part HELLS YES THIS IS THE SHiT!!! The title track is absolute murder dance rock X 100. The B-side is more dance rock, less murder, but still 100% awesome.

Highlights: サヨナラサラバ, A long way to go

10/10

サヨナラムーンタウン - シナリオアート

Hot damn, these kids must be the best band that I never listen to. Adding them to the list of bands to explore further after this is all over!

Highlights: ハローグッバイ, サヨナラムーンタウン

9/10

湿った夏の始まり - aiko

Good fun jazzy pop.

Highlights: 格好いいな, だから, ドライブモード, あなたは

7/10

シュプレヒコール [Single] - RADWIMPS

The title track is the very definition of 'a lot going on'; everyone seems to be doing their own thing during the verses in some way and even the drums are layered! But it all comes together massively in the chorus. The B-sides are much more simplistic.

Highlights: シュプレヒコール

8/10

すてきな15才 - YUKI

Kind of like a best of the last five years or something - basically the singles, so I have a couple of them elsewhere in different versions. More YUKI is never a bad thing.

Highlights: フラッグを立てろ, わたしの願い事, 好きってなんだろう…涙, ダーリン待って

8/10

すてんだっぷガールズ! ～第1話 ダメダメ怪獣にご用心～ - PASSPO☆

❤️

Highlights: すてんだっぷガールズ! ～第1話ダメダメ怪獣にご用心～, Party like a Rockstar!

10/10

それだけが、生きる意味なんだ / Spiral Star - 純情のアフィリア

Fun fact: I stayed in like a hostel or something in Tokyo and they had a bunch of free CDs of the local idol groups. This was one of those. And it is actually pretty good - not too far removed from the type of idol nonsense one would find in an episode of Love Live!

Highlights: Spiral Star, それだけが、生きる意味なんだ

7/10

×と○と罪と - RADWIMPS

This is the album I always forget. It is not bad - certainly not by the standards of the later output - but I just never find anything memorable. This listen has somewhat improved it for me.

Highlights: 会心の一撃, アイアンバイブル, いえない, 針と棘

7/10

どんなに君が変わっても僕がどんなふうに変わっても明日が来る君に会うため - BiSH

BiSH is OVER part return to the standard radio rock kind of thing. I dig it; whenever they do music like this, it still works, because they have unique voices. Even when they are not screaming for my death.

Highlights: ハッピーエンドじゃなくても

7.5/10

パレードが続くなら - YUKI

For her 20th Anniversary, YUKI brought back punk YUKI for a fleeting moment and it is glorious! She also continues to pull out the most amazing love songs on the planet. 

Highlights: タイムカプセル, It's 盟友, Naked, My Vision

7.5/10

ぴょ - BiSH

BiSH is OVER, part two. Ha! Tricked you - I actually know this time! Absolute punked up insanity, followed by less insane punk cool.

Highlights: ぴょ, HONESTY

9/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1991

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2025 in 2025: Day 194

After a travel through the 1980s and 1990s, let us check out the 2000s...

2000 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Performing a tribute to Mother Love Bone in Las Vegas just seems like an odd choice. Christmas for me was making some money selling this record!

Highlights: Crown of Thorns [Mother Love Bone; Live in Las Vegas 22-08-00]

6/10

2001 - Dr. Dre

Spoiler: every song where Nate Dogg hits the hook is an absolute bomb of a track. Like, you could have the rudest and most basic verses, but if you roll out Nate Dogg to sing some soulful chorus, LOGMAN is just going feel that. Also, Eminem was so much fun back then.

Highlights: Forgot About Dre (featuring Eminem), What's the Difference (featuring Eminem and Xzibit), The Next Episode (featuring Snoop Dogg), Still D.R.E. (featuring Snoop Dogg)

7/10

2001 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

They almost had something to say this Xmas; Vedder actually sounds like he is putting a bit of effort into his vocals for once, and at least has the decency to get a better singer to sing stuff he can not.

Highlights: Indifference [Live @ Bridge School 21-10-01 w/Ben Harper], Gimme Some Truth [Live @ Groundwork Benefit, Seattle 2-10-01]

6/10

2002 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

This shit is getting so lazy - it is just live recordings every year. And considering they release all their live shows for purchase, a fan club member is doubling up on something they possibly already own. At least they played a fun Xmas song for once?

Highlights: 2002 was a good year, made better by the fact I was no longer receiving the Pearl Jam fan club singles

5/10

2003 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Again, using a different singer increases LOGMAN's interest. Temple of the Dog were always the better band!

Highlights: Reach Down [Live @ Santa Barbara Bowl 28/10/03 w/Chris Cornell]

6/10

2004 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

I feel like Eddie Vedder did not need to give comparable proof he is not as good a singer as Michael Jackson, but here we are.

Highlights: I spent Xmas 2004 watching the full The Lord of the Rings. Extended editions. Because LOGMAN does everything right, duh!

4/10

2005 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

If these 'albums' had appeared earlier in my marathon, I would have quit and thrown my phone in the river for the turtles to use to order pizza. I do not need to hear Eddie Vedder mumble his way through another Elvis song for the rest of my life.

Highlights: Elvis could sing and had a strong voice

3/10

2006 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

These guys sure put in more effort when it involves a band they genuinely like. Bono is just a pretentious twat.

Highlights: Love Reign O'er Me

6/10

2007 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Oh hey - they actually recorded Xmas songs! I am grateful this is the last one I have, but I must question why I had anything past 2001 in the first place - I stopped listening to this band by 2002. Just a sick compulsion to collect. I need to take some serious reflection here...

Highlights: Pearl Jam clearly want their fans to be miserable at Xmas

5/10

2009, Year of Us - SHINee

Well, after all that... that... I get hit with the silliest K-Pop song this side of Waikato River. Which is about as far from Seoul as you could imagine, but the sentiment remains... stupid? At least this song grooves.

8/10

3121 - Prince

The title refers to the number of times Prince mentions anything sexual. After the first 3 songs, I guess he lost count?

Highlights: Get on the Boat, Lolita, 3121, Love

7.5/10

7800° Fahrenheit - Bon Jovi

Standard hair metal mid-80s Bon Jovi. It rocks, but not in the most outstanding way that the next couple of albums would. At least JBJ could sing back then.

Highlights: Tokyo Road, King of the Mountain, The Price of Love, In & Out of Love

6.5/10

アーユーレディー - 緑黄色社会

Am I ready? To leave the English language behind for the rest of the marathon?? This song sums up my disappointment with 緑黄色社会; the verses are great and feel like they are building to something, but then the chorus is... something else.

6/10

アイ アイ シンドローム - Charisma.com

Big head-knocking beats, massive synths, solid rapping and dreamy vocals. These ladies really could do no wrong. Except for disbanding. That was wrong.

Highlights: AUTOMADE, NOW, OLHERO, HATE

8/10

ありふれた人生 - 加藤樹里果

I mentioned this girl before - this is the solo album I was telling you about. It is totally fine - believe me when I say I have heard MUCH worse in the last couple of days alone.

Highlights: Single Room, 感謝して生きよう。,ありふれた人生

6.5/10

アルトコロニーの定理 - RADWIMPS

Oh yes, plenty of RADWIMPS incoming! And this is where business really picks up; just the most awesome musical riffs and fantastic hooks and emotion building kind of stuff. I think this is the first album I am going to listen to once I finish things here...

Highlights: おしゃかしゃま, One Man Live, 37458, 七ノ歌

8.5/10

うれしくって抱きあうよ - YUKI

IMO this is the first album where YUKIちゃん actually sings like she can. It is the usual format, but just with so much... soul?

Highlights: プレゼント, 汽車に乗って, 同じ手, うれしくって抱きあうよ, just life! all right!

8/10

カーマイン - ELLEGARDEN

Oh what was that? A new ELLEGARDEN single? Yeah, I cheated a little to include this; they released it after I started the marathon, but there was no way I could NOT listen to a new ELLEGARDEN song. Even one that does not sound like ELLEGARDEN...

8/10

BAH GAWD this day turned around fast!

'Albums' listened to so far: 1974

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 189

Young Americans - David Bowie

Bowie getting a bit funky and exploring his soul music influences. With some help from John Lennon. And a lot of saxomaphone.

Highlights: Fame, Young Americans, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Win

7/10

Young Man with the Big Beat - Elvis Presley

Oh, you thought we were done with Elvis box sets?!? This is purely his master recordings from 1956. Which is still 40 songs and over 90 minutes of awesomeness.

Highlights: One-Sided Love Affair, Trying to Get to You, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Rip It Up, Paralyzed, Don't Be Cruel

8/10

Young Man with the Big Beat: Live Performances - Elvis Presley

The Las Vegas performance is so fantastic; even as a young man, this dude never took any of this seriously - he keeps calling Heartbreak Hotel "Heartburn Motel", making jokes about the money his record label is making, and insulting all his own songs. The Louisiana Hayride stuff is a mixed bag - the performances are great and full of energy, but they were recorded off a radio in 1956 so the quality is about what you would expect.

Highlights: Long Tall Sally [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956], Money Honey [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956], Blue Suede Shoes [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956]

6/10

Your New Favourite Band - The Hives

Fast punk mayhem. The Hives when they were young were something else!

Highlights: Here We Go Again, The Hives Are Law You Are Crime, Fever

8/10

Yourself or Someone Like You - Matchbox Twenty

This is the most 90s radio rock sounding album since the 90s. Rob Thomas' voice is sooooo American, but he manages to convey a lot of emotion, which really carries the simplicity of the songs. 

Highlights: Long Day, Busted, Real World, Hang

8/10

YUKI "The Present" 2010.6.14,15 Bunkamura Orchard Hall - YUKI

This is somewhat interesting, because in true YUKI form she gives a few of the songs more of a jazz interpretation and also works them in to some little medleys. The whole is just a bit let down because her voice is nowhere near the awesome as it normally can be. And it is a bit long. But the setlist is fantastic!

Highlights: ハミングバード [Live], 恋愛模様 [Live], ティンカーベル [Live], Home Sweet Home [Live]

7/10

YUKI concert tour "SOUNDS OF TWENTY" 2022 9月19日 札幌・カナモトホール - YUKI

I was really hoping this version of 呪い would resemble the PRISMIC tour 2002 version, but I forgot that YUKI is ever-evolving. 

Highlights: 愛に生きて [Live], ヘイ! ユー! [Live], パレードが続くなら [Live]

7/10

YUKI concert tour "trance/forme" 2019 東京国際フォーラム ホールA - YUKI

This tour, for me (forme?), is YUKI at her vocal peak. And the reworking of some of these songs is just phenomenal. But bah gawd even on the fairly faithful performances, her vocals are just so much more than expected. And the end run of this is ALL THE FEELS. No cap: this version of はみだせ ラインダンスから is one of my all-time favourite songs (which is amazing, since the studio version is just kind of a song).

Highlights: はみだせ ラインダンスから [Live], フラッグを立てろ [Live], 鳴いてる怪獣 [Live], JOY [Live], 美しいわ [Live]

8.5/10

YUKI LIVE "little night music" 2023年9月16日 東京・Zepp DiverCity - YUKI

The last of my live YUKI albums and this one sure is a killer! I am glad I still at least have a few YUKI studio albums to come.

Highlights: タイムカプセル [Live], プレゼント [Live], ラスボス [Live], 忘れる唄 [Live]

8/10

Yume No Ukiyo Ni Saitemina [EP] - Momoiro Clover Z & Kiss

Such a perfect combination and it totally works, because MCZ do the whole heavy idol music thing at times and do it well (see my earlier words about their albums I have). 

Highlights: Yume No Ukiyo Ni Saitemina, Samurai Son

8/10

ZUTTO - BiSH

My girls ending the year of BiSH is OVER in a fairly appropriate way - one pop punk song and then a ballad. Not their peak or anything, but would have been a fine enough ending? Except they released another two singles after this. Milking it!

Highlights: ZUTTO, CALL ME AGAiN

8/10

・・・ - SAKANAMON

Japanese indie rock. Kinda quirky in parts, mostly pretty raucous and uptempo. 

Highlights: DAPPI, 反照, 凡庸リアライズ, STOPPER STEPPER

7.5/10

1:59PM - 2PM

Time for some classic K-Pop. It is fairly standard male idol quality stuff.

Highlights: My Heart, Heartbeat, I Was Crazy About You

7/10

Unfinished Music, No. 1: Two Virgins - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Ummmm what? Why is this album placed here? I would log in to my computer to figure out, but that died. Like my brain listening to this.

Highlights: Remember Love

Ummm/10

Unfinished Music, No. 2: Life with the Lions - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I promise you, the intro for Cambridge 1969 will always be entertaining to me; just having Yoko Ono introduce it so calmly, before launching into her trademark wails over a wall of feedback is a masterpiece of trolling. 

Highlights: Song For John

Ermmm/10

Wedding Album - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I would guess that under the "Sorting" field for these albums, it has a hash sign or something. Maybe an exclamation point - like a warning?

Highlights: Listen the Snow is Falling

Mmhmm/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1906

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 183

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z

A still young (maybe?) Hova full of fire and lewdness, but then he still is pretty lewd. This album has such a solid groove and goes pretty hard in parts. Surprisingly one of my favourite Jay-Z albums; not the overall brilliance of The Black Album, but real flashes of his genius.

Highlights: A Week Ago, Ni**a What, Ni**a Who (Originator 99), Can I Get A..., Money Ain't a Thang

8/10

Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter - Jay-Z

The first half is the less than impressive Hova I had expected. Then the second half - while nothing as exceptional as Vol. 2 - is way cooler and has much better grooves. Jay-Z flow and lyrical skills continue to be as awesome as ever throughout.

Highlights: Big Pimpin', Come and Get Me, There's Been a Murder, Hova Song (Outro)

7/10

Voulez-Vous - ABBA

The most disco of pop disco albums. A veritable party mixed with love ballads with a groove. Even tired old grumpy LOGMAN can not listen to this without eventually coming to life - If It Wasn't for the Nights is an absolute gem and Kisses of Fire is a good time forever!

Highlights: If It Wasn't for the Nights, Kisses of Fire, Voulez-Vous, Does Your Mother Know

9/10

Vs. - Pearl Jam

I really dig the way the guitars compliment each other on this album; Mike McCready and Stone Gossard rarely play the same parts and it gives the songs more dynamics. And these songs are full of passion and fire. A real product of the time, but still a gawdam awesome album that holds up well almost 35 years later.

Highlights: Rearviewmirror, Dissident, Go, W.M.A.

9/10

W is for What a Way to spend 2025

Waitin' For The Night - The Runaways

The first album with Joan Jett taking over as frontwoman and stuff is already a bit heavier. Because JJ does not mess around.

Highlights: Wasted, You're Too Possessive, Gotta Get Out Tonight, Don't Go Away

7/10

Waiting for the Sirens' Call - New Order

I was listening to this album with someone and they thought it was Manic Street Preachers... and I think that perfectly sums up this album. The whole thing is pretty standard Britpop and sounds more like a band influenced by New Order.

Highlights: Morning Night and Day, Waiting for the Sirens' Call, Turn, Guilt is a Useless Emotion

7/10

Waking Up The Neighbours - Bryan Adams

Like a less heavy Def Leppard album; the gang vocals and harmonies on this sound exactly like the Hysteria album, but this album has more cheese. I love BA and he absolutely killed it on this, but I think the album is a few songs too long - there are about 4 or 5 songs that sound WAY too similar, so if he eliminated a few of those it would be under an hour and be a lot tighter. Sometimes less is more.

Highlights: Don't Drop That Bomb On Me, Can't Stop This Thing We Started, Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven, Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya?

7.5/10

Walking Off the Buzz - Blessid Union of Souls

I only have one song - Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me). It is a lot of fun. Very typical 1999 pop radio rock kind of thing.

8/10

Walls and Bridges - John Lennon

Lennon doing way too much partying to keep caring about world peace, I guess. Instead, he chooses to get as middle of the road as possible - I get the feeling he was trying to get some hits or at least some radio time. 

Highlights: Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out), Steel and Glass, Whatever Gets You Through the Night, What You Got

7/10

War & Peace - Warren Peace

Well this thing is a mess. Some attempts at proper songs, but also some attempts at being a doucheburger. And, surprisingly, the latter is more successful. I am not sure why every song needed big messy noises to end them...

Highlights: Fire and Ice, Dear Diary

6/10

Warning! - Green Day

As fun as some of these songs are, they just sound like a bunch of earlier Green Day songs, just with acoustic guitar and keyboards and weak-sauce drumming. They really lost any remnants of their "edge" here. 

Highlights: Minority, Macy's Day Parade, Castaway, Church Sunday

7/10

WARP - JUDY AND MARY

The first half of this is EXTREME JAM craziness; a whole lot of noise and avant-garde "music". Then somewhere around the middle, YUKI decided to start practicing for her solo career and there is a massive shift towards pop hooks. Just covered in a layer of noise. I respect that their guitarist just never played sensible chords and treated these songs like a jazz jam session.

Highlights: motto, ガールフレンド, ひとつだけ -ver.WARP-, Brand New Wave Upper Ground

7/10

Waterline - Charlton Hill

I think the production on this album does it a great disservice; it is very much of the times and while that does work on a few songs, the rest get stuck in the mire of sounding very generic. It results in a lot of the songs lacking in emotion and just sounding dated. Which is a shame, because I know that underneath the songs actually have some soul.

Highlights: The Last Thing, Crash Landed, Turn To You, Deep

7/10

Waterloo - ABBA

Benny and Bjorn are working harder on this album - I do not recall them singing so many songs on any other album. It is ABBA. A good time is guaranteed.

Highlights: Waterloo, Honey Honey, Watch Out, Gonna Sing You My Lovesong

8/10

WAVE - YUKI

In some ways, this feels like YUKI's most straight-laced pop rock album. Apart from a couple of electro dance numbers. But overall, it really is a collection of great hooks over some simple chords. And that is a good thing - because it results in a some outstanding songs.

Highlights: 歓びの種, You've got a friend, あおぞら, ふがいないや

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1815

FREE PALESTINE

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 165

The Slim Shady LP - Eminem

When Eminem was content to just be funny. This album is definitely a lot more fun than anything else he did after. It was such a unique style and pretty game-changing. Not a huge fan of the first half, but the last half is pretty solid; lyrics focus less on the homophobia and sex crimes, and more just throwing up the middle fingers and killing people. I cannot even remember the last time I listened to this, but I still remember all the lyrics!

Highlights: Bad Meets Evil, Guilty Conscience, Just Don't Give a Fuck, Still Don't Give a Fuck

7.5/10

Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi

Big keyboards, big guitars, big drums, big hooks. They were really on something with the writing of this album - some of the lyrics are seriously cringe, but the way everything comes together is pretty fantastic.

Highlights: Wanted Dead or Alive, Wild in the Streets, Livin' on a Prayer, Let It Rock, Never Say Goodbye

9/10

Slipway Fires - Razorlight

If you look up "Mediocre" in the dictionary, they will just have this album cover. It is all listenable but completely forgettable and lacking in any emotion.

Highlights: Monster Boots

5/10

SLITS - YUKI

There is a formula to YUKI's last few albums; some full on electronic numbers, a little bit of jazz/funk fusion, an acoustic song, and one or two songs that are just mind-blowingly amazing. Not only is こぼれてしまうよ one of the greatest songs ever, but the bass playing on it is just phenomenal.

Highlights: こぼれてしまうよ, パ・ラ・サイト, One One One, ユニヴァース

8/10

Smash - The Offspring

When LOGMAN was 14 years-old, he did not notice the message of these lyrics - he just heard some catchy songs that sounded aggressive and occasionally made jokes about killing people in road rage. Heck, I did not even get the joke of that! Thirty years later, I can appreciate how much these songs are very upfront anti-capitalist and anti-conformity. How they went from that to fucking Why Don't You Get a Job boggles my mind.

Highlights: Smash, Come Out and Play, It'll Be a Long Time, Nitro (Youth Energy)

8/10

Smashes, Thrashes & Hits - Kiss

After Kissathon II, I reduced this to simply the "new" songs. Because I did not need more weak remixes of classic Kiss songs. What remains is basically an EP of super cheesy 80s pop rock and VERY suggestive lyrics. So, a good time with Kiss...

Highlights: Let's Put the X in Sex, (You Make Me) Rock Hard

8/10

Smell the Magic - L7

I have come to the conclusion that L7 are the band Kurt Cobain wished he could have been in. Or at least the type of music he thought he was making. Especially this album. It is ferocious and has some actual hooks as well. 

Highlights: Till the Wheels Fall Off, Shove, Packin' a Rod

7.5/10

Smile... It Confuses People - Sandi Thom

Zero idea how or why I have this album. Even less idea if I have ever listened to it before now. Her singing is a bad as her idea of what punk rocker was.

Highlights: It is a relatively short album

5.5/10

Snapz the Clown - DJ Reggie

Dear gawd, no thanks. Less shitty hip-hop, more just general shit. And lots of peaked-out distortion. Someone should have taught DRA to mix.

Highlights: It is even shorter!

3/10

So - Peter Gabriel

The only song from this album I have is Big Time. And while this is a great song, I can not help but think there are many other great songs on this album and I can not understand why they are not in my collection. Other than me being an embarrassment to all mankind.

8/10

So Long, Astoria - The Ataris

I have previously mentioned these dudes' cover of The Boys of Summer is golden, but the rest of this album is very much in my Q Zone - it is kind of early emo pop punk. Like the self-titled blink-182 album, minus the heavy synths and electro stuff. 

Highlights: The Boys of Summer, I Won't Spend Another Night Alone, My Reply, Takeoffs and Landings, So Long Astoria

7.5/10

So-Called Chaos - Alanis Morissette

This album is much more positive and upbeat than her previous albums; I will blame Ryan Reynolds, who also made a cameo in the video for Everything. Her voice is very good here.

Highlights: Excuses, Everything, Eight Easy Steps

7.5/10

Solace - Sarah McLachlan

This is not bad by any stretch, but it is lacking in anything really special. It all kind of just there in the background. I blame the super spacious production.

Highlights: Wear Your Love Like Heaven, Back Door Man

6.5/10

Solitaire - Clay Aiken

I have any versions of Elvis singing this song, as well. That is probably about it.

7/10

Some Gave All - Billy Ray Cyrus

This is purely Achy Breaky Heart. I used to perform this one live and you would not believe how much people loved it. Never failed.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1550

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2025 in 2025: Day 145

The Presidents Of The United States Of America - The Presidents Of The United States Of America

If Weird Al was a band and attempted to not just do satire, I imagine it would be something like this. Mostly super fun and silly pop rock. With an emphasis on the silly. Songs about animals, food, old men doing old men things, and... lumps? The sort of album you would put on while acting like a clown with your friends.

Highlights: Kick Out the Jams, Peaches, Lump, Naked and Famous

7/10

Pretty in Pink: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

Would you believe this is purely If You Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark? Of course you would, because LOGMAN is an embarassment to the 80s. 

8/10

Prince From Another Planet [Disc 1] - Elvis Presley

Elvis live at Madison Square Garden, but remixed. It is bizarre to me that they released this set and then proceeded to pretend it never happened, because every subsequent release has just reverted to the original version. So this is the afternoon concert and it is awesome! Elvis' voice is better than ever and the setlist is pretty much fire (except maybe missing a few songs like Just Pretend that would have topped it off nicely). One of the best live Elvis albums ever.

Highlights: You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin', Never Been to Spain, I Can't Stop Loving You, Suspicious Minds

8/10

Prince From Another Planet [Disc 2] - Elvis Presley

And then we get the evening show. Which is pretty much the same setlist as the afternoon show. Pretty much the same concert, to be real about it! Giant Elvis poster for $2? Give me three. Also, how are tickets still available for tomorrow's concert?!?

Highlights: You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin', Never Been to Spain, I Can't Stop Loving You, Suspicious Minds

8/10

PRISM - Katy Perry

I really like Roar - it is a catchy big pop banger. The rest of this album... is a testament to all that is wrong with Katy Perry. Hard to believe she actually has gotten even worse than this. Even harder to believe she still has fans!

Highlights: Roar, This Moment, It Takes Two, Choose Your Battles

5.5/10

PRISMIC - YUKI

YUKI's debut album is unlike anything she has released since; somewhat dark post-grunge more in line with JUDY AND MARY, with a hint of electronica and one of the most beautiful Beatles-esque ballads, and some extended art rock vibes. And that last half is just top-tier YUKI. I still cannot decide if the live version of 呪い is better than this version...

Highlights: プリズム, 忘れる唄, 惑星に乗れ, 呪い

8.5/10

Prisoner - Ryan Adams

Ah the album that helped kill DRA's career! I will never forget the hype this thing got, which was only matched by my pure indifference to the whole thing; there are still some good lyrics, but musically it is trying to be too much and his vocals are, quite frankly, a mess. In trying to sound like Bruce Springsteen, he forgot that he had his own voice that was actually decent. Coming after a reworking of a Taylor Swift album, it was like this guy no longer had his own identity. Or ever had one in the first place.

Highlights: Broken Anyway, Outbound Train, Doomsday, We Disappear

6.5/10

Prisoner (B-Sides) - Ryan Adams

This turned out to be the biggest scam and was the end for me with this dude; it was advertised as exclusive to the box set, but then before it even shipped out he offered the compilation on streaming and iTunes and whatnot. And then bitched online about anyone that was bitching online. Because that is DRA. Also, these songs are just mediocre. So it was double lose!

Highlights: Stop You

5/10

The Private Press - DJ Shadow

This album is certainly a groove. Low key low-fi beats, funky basslines and all sorts of killer samples. Things really shine when Shadow is sampling some big airy 80s synths over top of some breakin' beats. 

Highlights: Walkie Talkie, You Can't Go Home Again, Blood on the Motorway, Six Days

8/10

Proof - BTS

This is pretty much BTS's greatest hits, just with a few new songs to make even the hardcore fan have to purchase this. And it does not have all the hits, so you still need to buy other albums to get everything great. But this is a briiliant highlights package. And the new songs are killer. I am trying to be a bit tougher on my grading for this, because I can easily get caught up in the BTS cool and just give it all super scores. But hey they deserve it!

Highlights: 봄날, On, 상남자 (Boy In Luv), Moon, Dynamith, Butter, Intro: Persona

8.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1318

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2025 in 2025: Day 123

The Masterplan - Oasis

I used to find the record label spiel about these dudes doing I am the Walrus live so dishonest; they would always brag about how "The Beatles never attempted to play it live" and I am like, sure - because they quit playing live before they had even written the song, so they never had the chance. Some of these songs are very good, and some are vey much deserving of just being a b-side. And there were so many better songs left off that LOGMAN had to make his own compilation of them.

Highlights: Acquiesce, Talk Tonight, Stay Young, The Masterplan

7.5/10

Mata Leão - Biohazard

It was a shame to drop an awesome guitarist, but it did mean that just being a trio these dudes churned out a fast and furious hardcore piece of awesome. This is just the most no-nonsense album they ever made. And I think I stole some of the liner notes from this album to pad out the credits of The Return of the Mystery Monks of the Shaolin Temple.

Highlights: Authority, Modern Democracy, Control, In Vain

8/10

Matangi - M.I.A.

Well, this album is... crazy? At least, it starts out fairly weird and then slowly gains some sense of normality. And then back to the crazy. M.I.A. sure likes to shout out of tune.

Highlights: Exodus, Bad Girls

5.5/10

The Matrix: Music From the Motion Picture - Various Artists

Well, I used to have this album, but then I ditched it and only kept Rob D's Clubbed to Death. Because it is a very mean beat. I do not think the rest of the album was worth it.

8/10

MAXIDENT - Stray Kids

These guys are such a conundrum; MASSIVE beats and generally very hooky-hooks, but then they love making silly noises and having sections that just have zero flow. When they do it right, they really do it right.

Highlights: CASE 143, CHILL, TASTE, Can't Stop

7.5/10

Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too - Иew Radicals

No surprises, I only have one song. But it is not You Get What You Give - surprise! It is, of course, Someday We'll Know. Great song. One day I might check out the full album.

8/10

Measure of a Man - Clay Aiken

This is all very harmless mature pop music. Which is probably quite a waste of a singer like Clay Aiken.

Highlights: Invisible, Run to Me, I Survived You, Measure of a Man

6.5/10

The Meat Won't Listen - WereWolph

14 songs. 7 minutes. And 2 songs make up half of that time. The covers are hilarious - even when he covers himself - but some of this is very much not metal. DRA fails, yet again!

Highlights: I would like a full cover of Creed's Higher

4/10

Mechanical Advantage (The Covers EP) - Robot Goes Here

Absolutely hilarious low budget electro covers or rock and punk songs. The programmed vocals on Back in Black are amazing.

Highlights: Back in Black, The Trooper, Live in the Van

5.5/10

megaphonic - YUKI

YUKI finally embracing just being the artpop queen she always had inside her. With a little bit of pop-rock thrown in. Really solid album all around

Highlights: 鳴いてる怪獣, 相思相愛, Hello!, マイ・プライヴェート・アイダホ

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1080

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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

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2025 in 2025: Day 74

Forever Valentine - Whiskeytown

This is actually very good. Well, the songs are. Mostly. The recording is very budget, which is a bit distracting.

Highlights: Easy Hearts, Sittin' Around, Ghost Without Memory, Don't Wanna Know

7/10

Forget You [Single] - Cee Lo Green

I find the radio version of this song a bit more fun than the version with all the swearing. Except for when William Shatner does his thing with it.

9/10

forme - YUKI

This album is hard to pinpoint; there are some really great pop moments and some chill-out Sunday afternoon lounge-style stuff. It is mostly kind of there... and then it ends with a straight-up amazing song that always gives me the feels.

Highlights: 24hours, 美しいわ, チャイム, しのびこみたい, 風来坊

7/10

form [EP] - ichika

Super chill guitar virtuoso instrumentals. And purely guitar. So very sparse.

Highlights: I am now very relaxed

6/10

Forty Licks - Rolling Stones

I'm not sure how I ended up with such a large Stones compilation, when I am hardly what you would call a fan. I can appreciate some of their work, especially a lot of it on here. In fact, there are a few songs of theirs that I really like more and are not on here! What's up with that?!? I listened to 2 1/2 hours of Rolling Stones and didn't get to hear Highwire, but had crap like Undercover of the Night?

Highlights: Gimme Shelter, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Paint It Black, Get Off My Cloud, Honky Tonk Women, Beast of Burden, You Got Me Rockin'

6/10

Foundation - Drunken Tiger

Drunken Tiger is a lot of fun.

Highlights: Foundation, 슬픈 기타줄

7/10

Four Piece - 2

I had to buy this from iTunes, so it automatically translated the katakana. Which is interesting, because I had assumed the original title was For Peace. Shows what I know? Anyways, this is purely the b-side Black Star. Not the David Bowie song. Nor the amplifier. But the song is FIRE.

10/10

The Fragile (Left) - Nine Inch Nails

Dark and angry industrial stuff, but also some really really good instrumentals. Maybe that Trent Reznor guy should make instrumentals for movies?

Highlights: Somewhat Damaged, The Wretched, We're In This Together, La Mer

7/10

The Fragile (Right) - Nine Inch Nails

More of the same? Musically, it is all quite interesting and certainly serves well as background music while attending to various tasks. Or working. But maybe don't play track 6 in your office or retail store?

Highlights: Into The Void, StarFuckers Inc., The Big Come Down

6.5/10

Frampton Comes Alive! - Peter Frampton

By George, I really need to get one of the deluxe versions of this album. This whole album is such a vibe and I'm still rocking my original issue CD that skips songs from the original record. What kind of society are we living in?

Highlights: Show Me The Way, Wind of Change, Do You Feel Like We Do, (I'll Give You) Money

8/10

Frank - Amy Winehouse

This may sound odd, but I actually have never gotten the hype around this album. I find it all pretty boring. Winehouse could sing and all that, but there was just nothing on here that grabs me. Back to Black is far superior.

Highlights: Stronger Than Me, I Heard Love is Blind

6/10

Frank [Bonus Disc] - Amy Winehouse

Some of these live songs are good - somewhat better than the studio version, in my opinion. I'm not sure why, but whenever she sings about "Frank", I think she is talking about a pet rabbit. Every. Single. Time.

Highlights: In My Bed (Live at the Concorde), Mr Magic (Through the Smoke) [Janice Long Session]

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 607

2025 in 2025: Day 73

Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords

Nothing like starting the day with some relaxed comedy music. 

Highlights: Think About It, Robots, Mutha'ukas, The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room)

6.5/10

FLY - YUKI

The thing about this album is that the songs are good, but not great. And then live some of them come across as the greatest songs ever. SO that leads me to believe something was really lacking in the production here.

Highlights: Jodi Wideman, はみだせ　ラインダンスから, 波乗り500マイル, 真夜中の恋人, わたしの願い事

6.5/10

Folie À Deux - Fall Out Boy

This album is big and epic and a bit dark and full of awesome lyrics. The first half is a masterclass on how to write a modern rock album... except it is almost 20 years old at this point. Holy balls where is the time going?!?

Highlights: Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes, I Don't Care, America's Suitehearts, (Coffee's For Closers), Pavlove

8/10

Follow the Leader - KoЯn

Jonathan Davis is a terrible singer. Musically they can be quite fun on songs like Got the Life, but the lyrics are awful and the "singing" is bad. And his scatting is just all kinds of stupid.

Highlights: Got the Life, The intro My Gift to You

5/10

Follow the Lights - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Well this sure is a drastic change from what I just had to endure. This might still be one of DRA's strongest releases; rootsy acoustic numbers, a classic Alice in Chains cover, reworkings of some of his own songs, and lots of beautiful harmonies. That second verse in this version of Dear John is the stuff.

Highlights: My Love for You is Real, Blue Hotel, This Is It [Cardinal's Version], If I Am a Stranger [Live Studio Recording], Dear John [Live Studio Recording]

9/10

Fool for the City - Foghat

This is some classic 70s rock, right here. And it has everything you need; big long jams and guitar solos, groovy riffs and even some honky-tonk piano.

Highlights: Slow Ride, Fool for the City, Save Your Loving (For Me), Drive Me Home

7.5/10

Fool's Gold - Ryan Adams

For as good as Gold is, and how sad DRA was to not have it be a proper double-album, these songs are... average. At best. 

Highlights: The Bar is a Beautiful Place, Rosalie Come and Go, Dear Chicago

5/10

Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture - Various Artists

Because I am a disgrace to my generation, this is not the complete album. I'm really finding out a lot about myself with this marathon...

Highlights: Footloose - Kenny Loggins

8/10

For the Working Class Man - Jimmy Barnes

If you don't get chills during the ending of Working Class Man, then you must be dead. And if you are dead, you are missing out on a great album by Jimmy Barnes. Also, if you are dead and reading this you might be a zombie, so watch out for people trying to injure your head.

Highlights: I'd Die to Be With You Tonight, Working Class Man, No Second Prize, Ride the Night Away

8/10

Fore! - Huey Lewis and The News

Jeebus this is getting embarrassing. This is only The Power of Love. Which is not even really a song from the album (it was only included on international releases). There are so many good songs to hear from this album, like Stuck With You and Hip to Be Square, and here I am with just one random song that is more accurately from the Back to the Future soundtrack? LOGMAN is a joke.

10/10

Foreign Affair - Tina Turner

And continuing with my trend of having nothing real, this is purely The Best. I mean, it is a fantastic song, so there is at least that. Hot take; the version with Jimmy Barnes screaming like a maniac is even better.

9/10

Forever - Spice Girls

I better get a 25th Anniversary version of this album this year to match the other two releases. I will admit, I did not get this album when it was released. It is so different to those fantastic pop albums they released in the late 90s. Much more of an urban R&B kind of thing. But the Mels excel at that sort of thing, so it is like they aimed it perfectly at me!

Highlights: Holler, Tell Me Why, Goodbye, Get Down With Me, Wasting My Time, If You Wanna Have Some Fun

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 595

2025 in 2025: Day 60

E.T. (feat. Kanye West) [Single] - Katy Perry

Even when I didn't think Kanye was a nutjob that should be ignored, I preferred the album version of this song. And I felt very awkward rapping his part in front of little kids. 

8/10

E=MC² - Mariah Carey

I remember the video for Touch My Body being completely hilarious. That intro for Side Effects sounds like the opening for a song by The Lonely Island. I do enjoy that all throughout this album some dude just keeps randomly yelling "M.C." And what does "O.O.C." stand for?

Highlights: Touch My Body, Cruise Control, I'm That Chick, Last Kiss, Thanx 4 Nothin'

7/10

Early Takes - George Harrison

Acoustic demos and alternate takes, mostly from the All Things Must Pass sessions. The acoustic takes are good for more of a focus on the lyrics and George's singing. These definitely showcase how great he actually was.

Highlights: I'd Have You Anytime [Early Take], All Things Must Pass [Demo], My Sweet Lord [Demo], Mama You've Been on My Mind [Demo], Woman Don't You Cry For Me [Early Take]

8/10

Earthling - David Bowie

Little Wonder is so schizophrenic; when it came out, I actually could not get past the verses, which is sad because if I had I would have realised how great that 'chorus' is. I'm Afraid of Americans never stops being awesome and just gets truer every day. This album is WAY betterer than I have ever given it credit for.

Highlights: Seven Years in Tibet, I'm Afraid of Americans, Looking For Satellites, Battle For Britain (The Letter)

8/10

East - Cold Chisel

The most classic Australian rock album by the most classic Australian rock band. And I feel like Cheap Wine might even be the most classic Australian rock song?

Highlights: Standing on the Outside, My Baby, Cheap Wine, My Turn to Cry

7.5/10

East of the Sun, West of the Moon - a-ha

This is certainly not their finest hour.

Highlights: Slender Frame, Cold River, Rolling Thunder, (Seemingly) Nonstop July

6/10

East Side Story - DJ Reggie

Not even this delicious bottle Pepsi Zero Peach can make me understand how I thought this was fun.

Highlights: Revenge of the Ninja, Kick Em' in the Dungeon

3.5/10

Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Look, I can be fair to this guy and still say that his songs are great when they are. And some of these songs are absolutely brilliant. Two features probably his most honest line ever. My only criticism is going to be the drums, because they sound blurgh. But gawdam the harmonies and vocals are very good. Actually, the more truthful line is in These Girls: "These girls are better off in my head". Any woman would be better off not dealing with you in real life, buddy!

Highlights: Goodnight Rose, Two, Oh My God Whatever Etc., The Sun Also Sets, I Taught Myself How to Grow Old

8/10

Easy Tiger Rarities - Ryan Adams

These are fine, I guess? One of the songs was actually re-released with a different title, but there is absolutely no difference between the two except for the title.

Highlights: Alice

6/10

echo - CHARA+YUKI

Two indie pop queens uniting to make an E.P. - 20 years in the making, since they actually recorded the first song back in 1999. And I'm pretty sure they were in a punk band together around then? Anyways, lucky for me, YUKI seems to drive this or at least it all sounds like a YUKI kind of album. And the good kind, too.

Highlights: 愛の火 3つ オレンジ (2020version), 楽しい蹴伸び, Night Track, echo

8.5/10

Echo - Leona Lewis

Gawdam whatta voice! And mostly great songs... that all sound the same. So if you want epic pop songs with massive vocals, then this is a great album. I like those things, so thumbs up from me! Even an Oasis cover thrown in for fun? And yes, that was also epic (though I probably prefer the Oasis version, because Liam's voice not so perfect).

Highlights: Happy, I Got You, My Hands, Broken, Lost Then Found

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 485

2025 in 2025: Day 40

COMINATCHA!! - WANIMA

These guys are another one of those 'every song sounds the same' kind of band. And that rules, because this album is awesome. Big rowdy summer fun punk and ska good times in every song. Except for the one ballad on each album - which is also fantastic. 

Highlights: 夏のどこかへ, GONG, りんどう, Like a Fire

8/10

commune - YUKI

This is YUKI's second album and she is still in her post-grunge post-punk Beatles groove. It just isn't as strong as her debut album. Nothing outstanding or all that memorable, but definitely nothing bad.

Highlights: ハミングバード, ファンキー・フルーツ

6/10

The Complete '68 Comeback Special: The 40th Anniversary Edition - Elvis Presley

It is day 40 and we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the greatest television special recorded! I like the way that worked out. Even funnier knowing that I also have the 50th Anniversary Edition, but never bothered to import the extra disc that it contains. Because LOGMAN is a dork, sometimes. So this first disc is mostly just the original album. Which is the weakest part of the set; the mixes are kinda meh and there is crowd noise edited in between all the songs. Which just makes If I Can Dream sound super cheesy. Despite my complaints, it is still great a great album (especially the Gospel medley) and then it has some bonus tracks that are awesome; this version of It Hurts Me is powerful and I still can not understand why that segment has been cut from the home video version of the special. Let Yourself Go and A Little Less Conversation are super great songs. I really did not need another version of Memories - it is one of the worst songs Elvis recorded and a terrible sign of what was to come in the future. It is followed by the definitive version of the greatest song Elvis recorded. Elvis was all about peaks and valleys. Then we move on to Disc 2, which is the first of the 'Sit-Down' and 'Stand-Up' shows. I really enjoy the loose nature of the sit-down shows; it really just feels like a group of dudes jamming at home and reminiscing about about their younger days. Elvis was only 33 here, but had been in the business 13 years already! And Elvis clearly starts to really enjoy himself by the end of it. The 'Stand-Up' show is a different beast; big orchestra arrangements on all the old songs, Elvis all alone singing to backing tracks. I actually dig the arrangements on the 50s songs, but Elvis is clearly struggling to keep up on songs like Jailhouse Rock and he messes up hilariously in Blue Suede Shoes. The second 'Sit-Down' show is more of the same; feeling a bit more comfortable now, the guys just repeat some of the jokes that worked for the first crowd, Elvis messes up more songs and gets more unprofessional in the way only Elvis could get away with. The second 'Stand-Up' show is probably the stronger of the stand-up shows, if only slightly, as Elvis just continues to get more comfortable and just powers through the whole thing quickly, before reluctantly recording the Trouble/Guitar Man medley and then lip-sync to If I Can Dream. I'm very glad they never bothered using that in the final version of the special. And then, we are on to disc four; this is rehearsals, so not in exactly the best sound quality, but there a whole bunch of songs that they did not perform for the special. And the most interesting part is all the banter and just general tomfoolery of Elvis and his crew.

That's a big wall of text...

Highlights: Medley: Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head/Saved, If I Can Dream, It Hurts Me, That's All Right (First 'SIT-DOWN' show), Trying To Get To You (First 'SIT-DOWN' show), Don't Be Cruel (First 'STAND-UP' show), That's All Right (Second 'SIT-DOWN' show), Don't Be Cruel (Second 'STAND-UP' show)

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 333

2025 in 2025: Day 22

BETWEEN THE TEN [Disc 1] - YUKI

What better way to start the day than with a chronological compilation of all of YUKI's b-sides? And this wasn't compiled by me. Totally official. It's since been updated (online only) to celebrate her 20th anniversary as a solo artist, so that version is now totally complete (even with a new title and everything), and this album is stuck in 2012. But via iTunes means I would have to have all the romaji in the song titles, and I would rather avoid that plague of silliness. 

Highlights: ありがとう, 17才, 舞い上がれ, 首輪

7/10

BETWEEN THE TEN [Disc 2] - YUKI

Honestly, not much to say here. These are good songs - genuinely nothing bad going on here. Just a mixed bag of styles and varying between folky and dance bops - which is totally par for the course when it comes to YUKI. I think all I'm missing in my collection is a couple of singles and the b-sides on that 20th anniversary release.

Highlights: just life! all right!, 誘惑してくれ, Wild Ladies

7/10

BEYONCÉ - Beyoncé

This has videos as well? I wonder if my iTunes will play those... Anyways, I have never listened to this. Seriously. Was added to my iTunes by someone else and I have no idea why, as I am not a fan of Beyoncé and find her fandom annoying. Not as annoying as Taylor Swift fans, though. Come at me, Swifties. Shiizz, I ain't afraid of you mofos! These songs are too long and just not good. Well, they are somewhat fine musically, but the melodies and vocals and lyrics are just totally naff. Also, Drake is on a song? So I have Drake in my iTunes?!? Yeah, this is going to be a HARD delete. I curse the person that put that MF in my iTunes. At least the videos did NOT play.

Highlights: XO

4/10

Beyond Good and Evil - The Cult

This is only the song Rise. It rocks. It was most welcome after an hour of mediocre Beyoncé.

7/10

Big Band... Small World - Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and Friends

I was sure I had the whole album, but seems to be simply George Harrison performing Horse to the Water. Apparently Harrison's last recorded performance? And he wrote it with his son - that's pretty cool. And so is the song. Because George Harrison was cool.

8/10

Big Boi & Dre Present... Outkast - Outkast

This is a compilation of pre-Hey Ya! Outkast. I must have picked it up cheap at the time, because I really didn't know much of Outkast. In fact, I think I may have disliked them. I certainly could not stand The Whole World - terrible song. B.O.B. however is all kinds of cool. Otherwise... still not that impressed.

Highlights: So Fresh So Clean, Rosa Parks, B.O.B., Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

5.5/10

Big Calm - Morcheeba

This album is typical late 90s UK trip-hop folksy stuff. It's been so long since I last listened to it, that I had forgotten which song it was that caused me to get this album. I dig the instrumentals as well.

Highlights: Blindfold, Bullet Proof

7/10

Big Willie Style - Will Smith

Bah gawd this album is fun. Some of his lines are so corny, it is impossible to hate on it. And just makes me smile. Taking the same sample from a Tupac song and turning it into a fun party song is just the ultimate swerve. Songs about Jada and how he's going to get an Oscar are pretty funny now! And Jamie Foxx doing skits back when he was just the dude on In Living Color. Crazy world. Also, did Eminem steal lyrics from Left Eye on the title track?

Highlights: Gettin' Jiggy Wit It, Candy, Don't Say Nothin', Yes Yes Y'all, Big Willie Style

6.5/10

Bigger, Better, Faster, More! - 4 Non Blondes

Somewhere around the turn of the Century, I discovered how awesome Linda Perry can be. Her voice is so strong and has so much passion. This album is not the best example, as it is certainly very early 90s alt rock, but there are shining moments of greatness. I know most people are sick of What's Up, but it was a massive hit for a reason. It's probably the strongest song on the album, in all honesty. Linda Perry still rocks.

Highlights: What's Up, Dear Mr. President

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 183