2025 in 2025: Day 122

The Man From Manhattan - Eddie Howell

Freddie Mercury and Brian May get far too much billing for this. Well, Mercury does. Brian May's guitar is very obvious. But the Queen influence is all over this thing. Not a bad song, but I think Freddie was a tad optimistic to be so sure it was going to be a hit. But then again, compared to everything else on this, it is a sure fire classic!

Highlights: The Man From Manhattan, The Man From Manhattan (Revisited)

6/10

Man of Colours - Icehouse

I absolutely MUST get this album in full. One of the best Australian albums of the 80s, no doubt. And I am missing songs like Nothing Too Serious and My Obsession.

Highlights: Crazy, Electric Blue

9/10

MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 - BTS

This album is pure art. The solo songs being called interludes is hilarious, but ties it all together and everything here is different levels of great. Normally, I would be critical of an album this length, but it never gets too much, because there is so much going on and it all slams. It is impossible to not enjoy the BTS pop/hip-hop/R&B stylings. They are their own genre. And all of it proves once again that RM has the stupidest but most accurate name. Bah gawd I want to just listen to this all day.

Highlights: Intro: Persona, Dionysus, ON, Moon, We are Bulletproof: The Eternal, Outro: Ego

9/10

Map The Soul - Epik High

More Korean hip-hop! Another random song in my collection - Scenario. This might not be on BTS' level, but it is sure solid!

8/10

Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey

Everything about this, from the production to the hooks to Mariah's absolutely killer vocals, just screams 1990 to me. And I am here for it! Is it her that does the rapping on Prisoner? Because that is just wild! Someone needs to ask 10 year-old LOGMAN what his problem with Mariah was, because this album is my jam.

Highlights: Vision of Love, Prisoner, Someday, Love Takes Time

8/10

The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem

This was an album I listened to non-stop back in 2000. And as much as I have grown up in the last 25 years, I can still say that some of these beats are awesome and the lyrics are mostly hilarious. The homophobia and whatnot has not aged well. Steve Berman skits, however, never get old. Oh snap, this just reminded me of when I saw Live in concert and that dude started 'singing' The Way I Am at the end of one of their cheesy songs. Xzibit used to be so darn cool. Kim is the most wonderfully disturbing song of the year 2000.

Highlights: The Way I Am, Bitch Please II, Under the Influence, Criminal

8/10

MarugotoStarterActivitiesMp3LessonReview - The Japan Foundation

Well, lots of audio from one of my earliest textbooks. Great for practicing on my walk to/from the office back in the day. Where else do you want me to put it? In the fridge?

Highlights: practice makes perfect

7/10

The Massacre - 50 Cent

Remember when 50 Cent was one of the biggest hip-hop superstars in the world? Now, he may be more famous for being on social media and throwing money at stuff. And making fun of Floyd Mayweather. He should do more of that part. This stuff works best when it is going hard, because his LL Cool J impersonation is pretty lame.

Highlights: Get In My Car, Ski Mask Way, My Toy Soldier, Hate It or Love It (Remix)

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1070

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2025 in 2025: Day 121

M(A)DE IN JAPAN - Ayumi Hamasaki

I am unable to paste her symbol as text. Maybe I need to add it to my fonts or something? Flower is the heaviest and angriest and most awesome heavy Ayu song ever. And that guitar solo in Mr. Darling is just about the coolest. Hard to believe this album is almost 10 years old! And at this point was her last great album...

Highlights: Flower, Mad World, Mr. Darling, Survivor

8/10

Mack Daddy - Sir Mix-A-Lot

Strangely, this is purely Baby Got Back. I say strange, because I have two of his less popular albums in full. And Sir Mix-A-Lot is always good for some bounce. This song is iconic. I mean, who does not like big butts?

10/10

Mad Mad World - Tom Cochrane

This is just Life is a Highway. Bah gawd this song never gets old. I think I have heard a total of two Tom Cochrane songs in my life and can not remember the other. I think he is Canadian. So I should listen to more of his work!

10/10

Made in America - Blues Brothers

I would not brag about such things. Immediately leads consumers to believe your product may be poorly constructed. More live "blues" jamming from the best fake band ever. Belushi sure had a cool tone, even if he was not much of a singer.

Highlights: Soul Finger, Who's Making Love, I Ain't Got You, Going Back to Miami

7/10

Made in Heaven - Queen

This album is so much better than it had any right to be. Like, how do you just take a bunch of half-finished songs and make an album that is probably 20% better than any other album you have released in 10 years?!? And how did Mercury's voice sound so awesome still, despite being at the end of his life? Some massive rock songs, some chill pop, some epic ballads and even a dance number. All in all, it is the perfect sign-off. Fab.

Highlights: Let Me Live, Too Much Love Will Kill You, You Don't Fool Me, Made in Heaven, I Was Born to Love You

9/10

Madman Across the Water - Elton John

Would you believe this is only one song? A bit of a shame, really. I do not think I have actually heard this album in full. What a clown. This is Tiny Dancer. Legendary song about Tony Danza.

8/10

Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles

The Fab Four go full on psychadelica. I will be real with you: the original EP is probably the worst recorded music in The Beatles' discography. One good song and they are all produced terribly, in my opinion. But then the US version that has now become canon adds the 1967 singles, and they are some of the absolute best songs The Beatles ever recorded. Go figure.

Highlights: Strawberry Fields Forever, All You Need Is Love, I am the Walrus, Baby You're a Rich Man

7/10

Make It Big - Wham!

How is this only the song Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go? I mean, this song is awesome, but I do not understand why I do not have the full album. Or more Wham! I should have ALL the Wham!

10/10

MAKUAKE - eill

This is surprisingly.. funky! Like, full on funk dance pop. Very very cool.

Highlights: MAKUAKE, FUTURE WAVE, 初恋

8/10

Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J

Nothing like some old school LL Cool J to make the day even more badass. I actually do not recall listening to him so much back in the day, but this album strikes me as bit of a harder edge to some of his earlier cuts. The title track is all kinds of badassery. Marley Marl was/is def.

Highlights: Mama Said Knock You Out, Murdergram, Eat Em Up L Chill, Jingling Baby (Remixed But Still Jingling)

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1062

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2025 in 2025: Day 120

LOVE YOURSELF 承 `Her` - BTS

These bad dudes hitting with a quick and killer EP. Pretty much just 8 awesome dance tracks. DNA has to be one of their most complete songs and MIC Drop is just straight heavy hip-hop.

Highlights: DNA, Best of Me, Pied Piper, MIC Drop

9/10

Love. Angel. Music. Baby. - Gwen Stefani

I was never a big fan of this album, outside of a few songs. Listening back some 20 years later and bah gawd her appropriation of Japanese is such a super lame way to try and be cool. Bitch can't even pronounce Harajuku properly. And lyrically this stuff is about as shallow and braindead as you could possibly achieve. Unbelievably, the best part of this album features Andre 3000. I guess negative x negative = positive. 

Highlights: Long Way to Go, What You Waiting For?

4/10

LOVEppears - Ayumi Hamasaki

This album is just one big hardcore dance party. Like, this dance beat kicks in and never stops! Even on a song like And Then that is all dark and moody - it still makes you want to dance your socks off. Which would be weird, because how does that happen without losing our shoes? Do your socks just melt because they were made with cheap cotton? Anyways, in spite of Ayu's voice on this album, it is just killer. Always much better than I ever give it credit for.

Highlights: Who..., And Then, End Roll, Fly High

8/10

LOVEppears/appears 20th Anniversary Edition - Ayumi Hamasaki

Did someone say dance party?!? When I see dance mixes labelled something like "EURO Mix", I wonder if that is how they would mix it in Europe. Like, is this how music is European clubs actually sounds? Anyways, these megamixes are kind of fun. The "Millenium Mix" of A Song for xx sounds very much like the album version. And from there, it is just appears, WHATEVER and immature mixed in different ways. And because that was too diverse, the final disc is just appears. I guess that was the original release or something? I would not know - in the year 2000 I was too busy listening to Limp Bizkit and Eminem to know what an Ayu was!

Highlights: being transported back to a Euro dance club circa-2000 which is something I never experienced so have absolutely no nostalgia for it.

6.5/10

LOVEppears/appears 20th Anniversary Edition [Disc 1] - Ayumi Hamasaki

And then we are back to the beginning with the original album, but remastered for the 20th anniversary. Hence the big box set. Sadly, it is the only Ayu album that has been afforded such treatment. I was really hoping they might do something similar for MY STORY, but alas. I have this and the original release on here because there are genuine differences in the audio - this almost appears to be an actual remix, but I could be wrong. I have certainly heard appears enough today...

Highlights: Who..., And Then, End Roll, Fly High

8/10

Loverboy - Loverboy

I really should check out the rest of this album, but of now I will just enjoy the groove of Turn Me Loose. Great song.

8/10

Lovesexy - Prince

This album is such wonderful popfunkrnb. So much fun and danceability.

Highlights: Eye No, Lovesexy, Alphabet St., Glam Slam

8/10

Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1 - Various Artists

I only have the song Oh No by Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg. And it turns out I even have this on the wrong album? That is shocking. Almost as shocking as how cool this song? Pharoahe Monch has the coolest line of the week.

8/10

Turns out I also messed up my numbering last week and tried to force myself to listen to an extra 10 albums? Not on my watch!

"Albums" listened to so far: 1052

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2025 in 2025: Day 119

Love Again - Ayumi Hamasaki

This is not an album I listen to often - quite likely my least listened to Ayu album, or at least right up there. It is not necessarily bad or anything - there a few awesome songs and the interludes are really great - but I find it a bit... generic. This whole little period post-Power of Music is her most average. Colours was awesome and put an end to that. I should listen to Colours again...

Highlights: snowy kiss, untitled for her... story 2, Ivy, Bye-bye darling

7.5/10

Love and Fear - Jimmy Barnes

Barnesy's usual brand of Aussie rock, but with more of a modern/updated sound. Which, at this point, is now 20 years-old. Big rock guitars, a few big beats. No rapping on this one, but def some R&B on that one song.

Highlights: Time Will Tell, Temptation, Love Gone Cold

6.5/10

The Love Below - Outkast

Or really an Andre 3000 solo album with Big Boi on a couple of tracks. Look, Imma be real with you with all: I find Andre 3000 really pretentious and annoying. And this album is a lot of nonsense and sex, without actually being sexy, if you know what I mean. In the middle are two certified bangers, but they are just surrounded by the stupidest collection of skits and... whatever this is. None of it feels like actual songs.

Highlights: Hey Ya!, Roses

4/10

Love Demolition - Zowie

I think this is NZ pop? I was given this CD by... someone? And they were given it... somewhere? Clearly a heavy influence from Lady Gaga going on here. It is actually mostly decent. Or at least listenable. Hey - that is a very high compliment for me when it comes to New Zealand music!

Highlights: You Treat Me (Like I'm Software), My Calculator, Nothing Else, Ping Ping

6.5/10

Love Gun - Kiss

This album is just what I needed this morning to get back on track! Just about peak Kiss, right here. Well, I mean, they peaked for like 3 years and it was basically downhill after this, but this album rules the schools.

Highlights: I Stole Your Love, Love Gun, Got Love for Sale, Plaster Caster

9/10

Love is Hell - Ryan Adams

No one will ever convince me this album is as good as people try to pretend it is. I am not saying it is terrible - because I listened to The Love Below this morning, so I know terrible - but it is not the amazing triumph that Ryan Adams fans think it is.

Highlights: This House is Not For Sale, Love is Hell, Wonderwall, Please Do Not Let Me Go

6/10

Love is Hell Rarities - Ryan Adams

Some of these songs are fine. Some are better than some of the songs on Love is Hell. Some are just a continuation of the miserable mediocrity found on Love is Hell. And this version of This Is It is the worst I have ever heard.

Highlights: Gimme Sunshine, I Want to Go Home

5.5/10

Love is Hell: New York Sessions - Ryan Adams

I am going to kill myself...

Highlights: I am dead like Charlie Kirk

5/10

Love Live! School Idol Project - μ's

Oh hey, I did a cleanup of this stuff a few years ago. I actually thought it was last Winter, but apparently time goes VERY quickly! Yeah yeah iDOL is SHiT and all that, but this is exactly what I needed after 3 hours of DRA being a black cloud. These girls are the rainbow and sunshine washing his BS away. I need to learn No brand girls on guitar. And bah gawd that bassline in どんなときもずっと is phenomenal.

Highlights: No brand girls, どんなときもずっと, Wonderful Rush, 僕らは今のなかで

8/10

Love Live! Sunshine - Aqours (and others)

Why, yes - I did a cleanup for these songs the day after doing so for μ's. This was more complex, because I had everything still split across like 4 albums and all sub-unit names are being used for the artists, etc. I may have to watch an episode of this show tonight.

Highlights: 勇気はどこに？君の胸に！, 君のこころは輝いてるかい？, SELF CONTROL!!, Landing action Yeah!!

7.5/10

Love Songs - Ayumi Hamasaki

Start the day with Ayu and end the day with Ayu! I always forget this album actually came out before the Power of Music concert - mostly because there is almost nothing from it performed at that show - and I consider it the start of the 'lame' period of Ayu's career. Well, first lame period. The second would be the last 4 or 5 years. Like most Ayu albums, it is a mix of various styles, but country rock is certainly a first!

Highlights: Thank U, Love song, MOON, blossom, sending mail

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1044

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2025 in 2025: Day 118

Look Look Look - MC Hammer
Hammer going hard on this album. And Pleasure Ellis is a darn fine singer - reminds me of Michael Jackson in his tone. When Hammer gets his Prince on and gets all sexy, it is really hard to not just think it is parody, because it just never sounds genuine at all. Hammer is a family man. Prince was a freak. These two are at their best speaking on love and peace. Hammer and Pleasure Ellis, that is. Not Hammer and Prince.
Highlights: What Happened to Our Hood?, HammerTime, Who Loves Me?, West Coast Cha
7/10

Loose - Nelly Furtado
I am old enough to remember when this came out and people called Furtado a sellout or whatever. Like JT's FutureSex/LoveSounds, this album surprisingly holds up well. Timbaland sure was on something back in 2006.
Highlights: Maneater, Te Busque, Say It Right, Wait For You
7.5/10

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Howard Shore
I actually only have one song here - Into the West - and it is a beautiful cinematic moment. 
9/10

The Lost Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists
This is only Good Times by INXS and Jimmy Barnes. Why? I already have this elsewhere!
9/10

Lost Dogs - Pearl Jam
This is only the song Hard to Imagine. Sadly, it is a re-recorded version. I once had the original bootleg version from like 1993 and it was better. Not sure that copy ended up or why they could not just release it instead of this. No one wants to hear annoying mid-00s Eddie Vedder.
8/10

Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi go country! And it is as corny as you would imagine. Which is right in Bon Jovi's wheelhouse. Sambora plays a bunch of very tasty solos. 
Highlights: Whole Lot of Leavin', Lost Highway, Any Other Day, Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore
7/10

LOtUSFLOW3R - Prince
Prince channeling Hendrix and giving us a blues rock album was not something I expected, but I am grateful for it. Awesome solos galore!
Highlights: Dreamer, Colonized Mind, Crimson and Clover, 4ever
7/10

LOVE - 菅田 将暉
Good actor, good music. I do not seem to recall who it was that wrote the songs, but he is a very talented guy that is writing for many good artists. No, not me. 
Highlights: ロングホープ・フィリア, TONE BENDER LOVE, あいつとその子, まちがいさがし
7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1033

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2025 in 2025: Day 117

Live: Medianrum Forumassago, Milan 03-11-2010 - Prince

This an example of a very listenable audience recording. It is not perfect by any stretch, but certainly gives a decent account of what the show was like. And this show is Prince tearing up the sky with his telecaster. The man is clearly in a groove, because it is not until song five that he actually plays one of his own tracks. And his playing has all the feel and funk you could imagine. 

Highlights:

8/10

Live: Omaha to Osaka - L7

Having a marching band perform a medley of L7 songs is definitely a way to start a live show. Not sure what their beef with Dave Mustaine and Megadeth was. Sure, Crush 'Em was not the best entrance theme for Goldberg, but that is no reason to keep ripping on the dude in Omaha. They sure did not have anything to say about him in Osaka. Instead they.. .bitch about people asking for Shitlist. Rude. You played that for the clowns in Omaha! I guess that was their prize for not going to see Megadeth!

Highlights: Deathwish, Drama, Non-Existent Patricia, Shitlist, Fast and Frightening

7/10

Live: Palalottomatica, Rome 02-11-2010 - Prince

Hilarious that this comes after the concert that happened the day after. Now I am confused! The sound quality is not as good as the Milan show, but the setlist is slightly different; much less covers, a couple of 90s cuts, and a bit less jamming. Purple Rain is not quite the guitar solo masterclass as it would be the next night, but it is still extremely awesome. 

Highlights: Purple Rain, Peach, Controversy/Le Freak/Sexy Dancer, Shhh!

7.5/10

The Living Dead - BUMP OF CHICKEN

My usual points about these dudes still remains, but this album is a little different in vibes; it is much less rocking and a bit more chill. The acoustic guitar is quite prominent, but without the album not feeling like an indie rock album. Actually, that is the vibe! Much more indie. 

Highlights: LAMP, K, 続・くだらない唄, リリィ

7/10

The Living End - The Living End

When I hear Green Day albums from the late 90s/early 00s like Nimrod and Warning, I think this is what they though they sounded like. But they did not. Because that stuff was weaksauce and this is ferocious skiffle rockabilly punk rock and it absolutely stomps hard. Awesome songs and VERY good musicians. Sure, the 2nd half is just kind of okay, but that first half is so amazing you forget you are listening to some young Aussie dudes. Apparently, the dude from this band is also in a rockabilly group with Jimmy Barnes. Holy moly!

Highlights: Growing Up (Falling Down), Monday, Save the Day, Second Solution, West End Riot, All Torn Down

8/10

Living in the city - SCANDAL

Their drummer must have slept in and missed the session? Because this is modern-era SCANDAL with a big beat behind those soundscape guitars. And it is great.

8/10

Living in the Material World - George Harrison

This is much of a straight up pop album, compared to his first solo effort. Lyrically, it is very focused on spirituality. And getting sued.

Highlights: Be Here Now, Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth), The Day The World Get's Round, Living in the Material World

7.5/10

Living Things - Linkin Park

This is pretty quick fire. But also lacking in any real substance or anything memorable. It follows a bit of the vibe of Ten Thousand Suns by having a whole lot of similar sounding songs. Except those were awesome and there were all those weird interludes to mix it.

Highlights: Burn it Down, Powerless

6/10

London Calling - The Clash

Not quite as diverse as some of their other albums, but the mindset and attitude remains the same. This marathon has definitely made me appreciate The Clash even more.

Highlights: London Calling, Death or Glory, Train in Vain, Rudie Can't Fail

7.5/10

Long Plays 83-87 - Pseudo Echo

This is purely Funky Town. The greatest cover song ever. I do not need to know if Pseudo Echo ever made any other music, because this song should fund them many houses for eternity.

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 125

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2025 in 2025: Day 116

Live in Tokyo, Japan (Nakano Sunplaza, February 19, 1992) - Nirvana

This was the only live show from the 20th Anniversary release of Nevermind that I kept. Because no one needs that many Nirvana concerts in their collection. Hell, I am not sure I even need one Nirvana concert in my collection.

Highlights: Lots of feedback

5/10

Live In Utrecht: June 20, 1987 - Prince

As expected, this is a very solid performance. And the band are certainly funk enough. However, it must be said that there is genuinely something lacking without The Revolution. 1999 sounds like a bit of a mess. And, strangely, most songs NOT from the Sign O' The Times album are rather truncated. Shelia E. is da bomb.

Highlights: Sign O' The Times, Girls & Boys, Four, Purple Rain

7.5/10

Live Jewels - Queen

A collection of random live songs, mostly from the reissue bonus discs. Well, they are all from the various reissues, just not full concerts or anything. Pretty sure if I look hard enough I could find them, but it is much nicer to just have the official releases that actually sound good. And makes for a fun mix.

Highlights: Is This the World We Created...? (Live in Rio January 1985), We Will Rock You [Fast] (Live in Tokorozawa November 1982), Action This Day (Live in Tokyo November 1982), Calling All Girls (Live in Tokyo November 1982)

7/10

Live May/June 1975 - Elvis Presley

It has been a hot minute since I heard some live Elvis, and this is a pretty fine concert; Elvis' voice is in good form and he clearly has zero cares to give, given he admits to being sick of singing Love Me Tender and even makes fun of his fans for attending the concert. Not sure the kissing 13 year-olds is something that needed to be on record, though.

Highlights: Let Me Be There, Burning Love, If You Love Me (Let Me Know), T-R-O-U-B-L-E

6.5/10

Live on Two Legs - Pearl Jam

Eddie Vedder sounds annoying from the very first line he sings on this album. And Stone Gossard's guitar work is... not great. Matt Cameron may actually be best part of this band, at this stage. Boring.

Highlights: The end guitar solo in Black

5.5/10

Live to Win - Paul Stanley

Taking a break from actual live albums is fine with me! I stand by all my original comments regarding this album. Paul's voice certainly is past its prime, here. But at least this is all relatively short.

Highlights: All About You, Live to Win

6/10

Live Your Life Be Free - Belinda Carlisle

Belinda Carlisle really does have some great pop music - this is very much in the same style as Heaven on Earth. Not a bad thing. The title track is a fantastic song.

Highlights: Live Your Life Be Free, You Came Out of Nowhere, You're Nothing Without Me, Loneliness Game

7/10

Live: 1995-03-24 Mt Smart Supertop - Auckland, New Zealand - Pearl Jam

This was the first concert I ever went to! I remember this all very well... Anyways, this is an audience recording, so the sound is absolutely terrible and barely listenable. I should throw this in Logic and see if I can remaster it or something.

Highlights: I got a cool t-shirt

IMPOSSIBLE TO SCORE

Live: 1995-03-25 Mt Smart Supertop - Auckland, New Zealand - Pearl Jam

And this was the second night. The sound is a bit better on this one and Eddie's voice is actually freakin' great. If only there was a better version available.

Highlights: Remembering that Pearl Jam were cool

IMPOSSIBLE TO SCORE

Live: Entertainment Or Death - Mötley Crüe

This was the last album I listened to (and probably did not complete) when I started my Mötley Crüe marathon some time ago. It very much has a 'Tommy has left the band and we are dead, so here some live tracks for one final cash out!' feel to it. It feels far too long, despite the fact that it clocks in at 97 minutes - which is likely much shorter than an actual Mötley Crüe concert. I think that says a lot. The first disc is actually pretty decent; I think some of this was recorded on the Shout at the Devil tour and they were on fire! But by the time they start using backing tracks and Vince has clearly given up trying, it is just a chore to get through.

Highlights: Looks That Kill, Knock 'em Dead Kid, Too Young to Fall in Love, Smokin' in the Boys Room

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1015

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