2025 in 2025: Day 197

Somehow I have made it to the end of the year with 17 albums to go. What a trip...

愛泥C - Charisma.com

Like always, big beats, dreamy vocals, quirky rapping. They have a formula that never changes - and I would never want it to!

Highlights: GODcustomer, サプリミナル・ダイエット, 骨抜きに恋して

7.5/10

携帯電話 - RADWIMPS

The B-side on this single is seriously groovy. Pre- movie soundtrack RADWIMPS really were something else.

Highlights: ハイパーベンチレイション

7.5/10

旅鳥小唄 -Songbirds of Passage- the LOW-ATUS

細美さん teams up with a dude that actually used to hate him to make some full on roots acoustic kind of stuff. Certainly more country than you would expect from a couple of Japanese punks.

Highlights: 丸氷, ダンシングクイーン, オーオーオー, いつも通り

7.5/10

星飼いの少年 - AKIHIDE

Somewhat jazzy and progressive. Mostly instrumental classical guitar based pieces.

Highlights: 青空, 星追いの少女

6.5/10

有頂天 - ポルカドットスティングレイ

First of all, during this period their singer had the best haircut in rock. Shiiiizzz I ain't afraid of you mofos. Secondly, there are so many cool riffs and driving rhythms that it is a veritable party up in here! ラブコール is a certified 20/10 banger!

Highlights: ラブコール, ICHIDAIJI, 有頂天, DENKOUSEKKA

8/10

柏木由紀なりのBiSH -BAD TEMPER- - BiSH

The final pre-BiSH is OVER single and a collaboration with 柏木由紀. I am not sure exactly who she is, but this song is pretty much standard BiSH; kinda punk, but with strings and big catchy stuff. Oh wait; since this is not strictly BiSH, does that mean it is not included in my giant pizza box? I best go investigate...

Highlights: 柏木由紀なりのBiSH -BAD TEMPER-, オーケストラ <KASHiWACK version>

9/10

此処から - Organic Call

I think this may be my first time hearing this song? Because it is so amazing I am sure I would have remembered it. Indie rock with an absolutely SOARING ending.

10/10

歪んだ鉛筆は誰かに折られないために - HAMIDASYSTEM

Dark brooding electro stuff. With vocals that legit sound like one of the girls from BiSH. If the singing was better, this would be seriously great. What can I say? iDOL is SHiT!

Highlights: インビジブル・ムービー, 水槽標本, 舞台に溶かされて

7/10

水平線、続く天青 [EP] - Organic Call

Hot dang, these cats are seriously very good! Easily the best find of this journey - which is stupid, considering they have been in my library for at least five years now. I need MOAR!!!

Highlights: 愛おしき日々たちへ, 空に灯す, 3秒前の憂鬱, 茜色

9/10

溢れた水の行方 - 緑黄色社会

I am not sure if this is peak 緑黄色社会, because their debut album is so brilliant, but this is certainly a worthy successor - even if it is just an EP. Just fantastic pop rock and even a little bit of edge on a couple of songs.

Highlights: Never Come Back, Bitter, サボテン, リトルシンガー

9.5/10

生と詩 - 2

May Prime bless those wonderful kids at Tower Records and their musical choices. One of the most raucous punk albums since The Hives. But also featuring one of the coolest guitar solos on the planet. This album deserved much more notoriety than it received. 

Highlights: 東狂, フォーピース, ルシファー, SとF

9.5/10

生命の弦声笛 - 十一

Somewhat traditional folk-styled music? Super chilled and relaxing - very sparse and minimalist.

Highlights: I feel good

7/10

祈跡 - RADWIMPS

Super early RADWIMPS is such a strange thing. Some of it just sounds like high schoolers messing around on their school's recording equipment.

Highlights: 祈跡

6.5/10

絶体絶命 - RADWIMPS

From the near nadir of their roots to the absolute peak of their awesome. I cannot even count the amount of times I had a fist in the air listening to this album. Hot damn - I had forgotten how cool it is. Perfect way to end a couple of days of RADWIMPS tearing up this marathon.

Highlights: 億万笑者, DADA（dadadada Ver.), 君と羊と青, 救世主

10/10

緑黄色社会 - 緑黄色社会

An absolute gem of an album; the most dreamy indie pop rock, full of emotion and generally fantastic musicianship. I have been critical of almost everything they have released since, because this album is so darn perfect!

Highlights: 真夜中ドライブ, 恋って, Re, 始まりの歌

10/10

脱・既成概念 - BiSH

BiSH is OVER - and so is this marathon, almost! This is one of the weirdest singles ever from them - just the cheesiest of dance pop iDOL SHiT. And the B-side is almost Harry Connick Jr-style jazz pop. I kinda dig it all!

Highlights: 脱・既成概念, I

8/10

華納好歌連場精選 - George Lam

And we have reached the end! And what a song to end with; 男兒當自強 the theme for Once Upon a Time in China (and The Return of the Mystery Monks of the Shaolin Temple - one of the greatest cinematic achievements in history). Makes you feel like giving everyone a no-shadow kick to the face. Especially me for listening to 2025 albums and it taking me all darn year!

10/10

'Albums' listened to: 2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And remember: I ain't afraid of you mofos.

FREE PALESTINE

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

FREE PALESTINE

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 193

1984 - Ryan Adams

Look, the guy is a total douchenozzle, but I will be damned if this is not the raddest 15 minutes of raw punk rock.

Highlights: Rats in the Wall, When the Summer Ends, Change Your Mind, Push It Away

9/10

1989 - Ryan Adams

Funny that the last proper Ryan Adams album in this marathon is the album that you can actually trace the end of his career back to! Taking a women's work and making it his seems totally appropriate. I think he nailed the style changes for a few songs, and a few it is just like 'yeah, we get it, you are depressed'.

Highlights: Style, I Wish You Would, All You Had to Do Was Stay, Bad Blood

7/10

1989 - Taylor Swift

Due to the production, this is probably the only Taylor Swift I can enjoy - some of the songs have a bit of a Eurythmics kind of vibe, and I really dig that. Bah gawd, Swifties are the absolute worst and make their cult leader even more insufferable. The songs that feel a bit more genuine are the better songs.

Highlights: I Wish You Would, All You Had to Do Was Stay, Out of the Woods, Welcome to New York

8/10

1991 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

The first Pearl Christmas single. Just one simple song and the band recording a message to their fans. There are many more to come...

Highlights: Quick?

5/10

1991 Remixes - Queen

When their studio albums were initially 'remastered' and re-released back in 1991, there was this fun gimmick of a few songs getting remixed in various ways. Most of it involves just adding a bunch of reverb to the vocals and drums. Some got a bit of a dance remix happen. And then Rick Rubin turned We Will Rock You in to a completely crazy hip-hop style thing. 

Highlights: Tie Your Mother Down (1991 Remix by Matt Wallace), We Will Rock You (Ruined by Rick Rubin), Flash's Theme (1991 Remix by Mista Lawnge)

7/10

1992 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

One of the best songs recorded by Pearl Jam and then a mess of samples? You know what? I deserve this.

Highlights: Sonic Reducer

6/10

1993 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Similar to the 1992 Xmas single, where the A-side is brilliant and the B-side is... not. At least this time it is a live jam where they were being pelted with shoes.

Highlights: Angel

6/10

1994 Solo Recording - Ryan Adams

Acoustic country numbers - sounds like they were recorded during a radio appearance or something? Who the hell wanted DRA on their radio show in 1994?

Highlights: I am still awake - or is that a lowlight?

5.5/10

1995 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

There was no single in 1994 - I must have forgotten that. This one at least features four songs! And they are all live performances of covers - including a performance from the first concert I ever went to. 

Highlights: History Never Repeats [Live in NZ w/Tim & Neil Finn], Sonic Reducer [Live in New Orleans w/Joey Ramone]

6.5/10

1996 Christmas Sing - Pearl Jam

One terrible song about not being good enough for the Olympics, followed by a very average live performance of a song off No Code.

Highlights: 1996 was 30 years ago?

4/10

1997 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam & R.E.M.

Dudes could not even muster the effort to record another rambling nonsense for their fans, so had to get another band to do it for them? Fair call; if I had known that was an option, I would have got someone else to listen to their music for me!

Highlights: I saw Kiss live for the first time in 1997

4/10

1998 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

These recordings of two super bland old pop songs from the 60s were later released to the general public and Last Kiss became a big hit. I wonder if Eddie Vedder had given up pretending he was "very punk rock" by then...

Highlights: So very punk rock

6/10

1999 - Prince

Oh, thank Prime! This is pure 80s Prince R&B pop and funky rock. There is a bit of something for everyone. Especially the sex addicts?

Highlights: Little Red Corvette, 1999, Let's Pretend We're Married, All The Critics Love U in New York

8.5/10

1999 (Super Deluxe Edition) - Prince

Boy, there sure are a lot of 1999-era demos on here. Oh, wait - this is the 1999 box set! For some reason, I thought I was listening to the Purple Rain vault tracks. The really interesting part of these, for me, is that so many of the unused songs just got re-worked until Prince was happy enough to give them a home on an actual album. 

Highlights: How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? [Take 2 - Live in Studio], Moonbeam Levels, Irresistible Bitch, Lady Cab Driver/I Wanna Be Your Lover/Head/Little Red Corvette [Tour Demo]

7/10

1999 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Yawn. What a boring Christmas.

Highlights: 1999 with Prince was more of a party

5/10

1999: Promo Mixes & B-Sides - Prince

Speaking of partying like it is (was?) 1999... lots of edited versions of songs - which is kind of wrong, because these songs are classics, but radio is a bitch like that - and a couple of equally awesome B-sides. 

Highlights: How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore, Irresistible Bitch, Horny Toad, Little Red Corvette [Special Dance Mix]

9/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1956

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 192

15 Doors - Moumoon

Some very light J-Pop. Simple and fun, plus an epic awesome ballad.

Highlights: Evergreen, Aoi Tsuki To Ambivalence Na Ai, Happy Unbirthday, 15 Doors

7/10

15th Anniversary TOUR ~A BEST LIVE~ - Ayumi Hamasaki

I feel like my marathon has been severely lacking in Ayu this past month or so... This is a genuinely brilliant performance to watch, but the mix on the CD is somewhat lacking? I cannot put my finger on it. Plus they omitted Surreal/Evolution/Surreal, which is just silly. Still darn great and hard to believe this was 13 years ago.

Highlights: Memorial address, M, Who..., teddy bear, Key ~eternal tie ver.~

8/10

18 Til I Die - Bryan Adams

Look, it is mostly very listenable, but on the whole it really lacks that magic BA had on all his albums leading up to this (and on most albums after). Some of it feels like pandering to the alt. rock crowd, while some of it feels like an attempt to show he was still kind of rock and edgy. And it is that stuff that really comes up short. When he is just being Bryan Adams, it works totally fine!

Highlights: It Ain't a Party...If You Can't Come 'Round, Let's Make a Night to Remember, Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?, You're Still Beautiful to Me

7/10

20th Century Boy: The Ultimate Collection - Marc Bolan & T. Rex

I like Marc Bolan so much more than I realise. Or, at least, I like the songs I like way more than I realise. It is all a combination of the most dreamy rock'n roll and just the sexiest stomps. Pure 70s glam rock.

Highlights: Children of the Revolution, 20th Century Boy, Born to Boogie, Bang a Gong (Get It On), Solid Gold Easy Action

7.5/10

23rd Monster - Ayumi Hamasaki

Another anniversary single. I am quite certain that is all Ayu will release for the next 40 years - outside of concert DVDs, of course. This at least rocks hard. Ayu goes heavy very well.

9/10

29 - Ryan Adams

How did this dude get away with blatantly ripping off so many other artists & songs on this album? Was it because this album is mostly boring and no one listened to it? 

Highlights: Elizabeth You Were Born to Play That Part, Voices, Night Birds

6.5/10

48 Hours - Ryan Adams

From an album made of mostly mediocre songs with terrible lyrics, to a collection of fantastic songs with brilliant lyrics - genuinely some of my favourite of his ever. Dude should have just made more albums like this; a little bit country, but with enough soul and a bit of quirk that it just makes it more charming.

Highlights: Angelina, Desire, Karina, Chin Up Cheer Up, Like the Twilight

9/10

52nd Street - Billy Joel

This is very consistent Billy Joel storytelling pop with solid hooks and just a real groove all around.

Highlights: Big Shot, Zazibar, Half a Mile Away, My Life

7.5/10

200 km/h in the Wrong Lane - t. A. T. u.

This is so very 2000s. Very, very 2000s. Sounds more dated than a 90s J-Pop album.

7/10

300 Days at Sea - Heather Nova

This is such a return to form, but everything is actually a lot BIGGER than normal. So in that respect, it is a bit of a change! But the songs are a touch lighter, but more accessible and draw in the listener.

Highlights: Beautiful Ride, Precious Thing, Turn the Compass Round, I'd Rather Be

7.5/10

311 - 311

I am not sure this album could sound anymore lo-fi mid-90s if it was wearing a flannel shirt. But that is part of its charm; it is actually a bit of an eclectic mix of styles, not just the radio rap rock. But there is that, too. 

Highlights: Down, Don't Stay Home, Don't Let Me Down,T&P Combo

7/10

808s & Heartbreak - Kanye West

The stark minimalist production provides a more introspective approach and a somewhat somber atmosphere, at times. Dude should have looked inside himself and said 'Hey, being a nazi is very bad!'. Fucking clown shoes.

Highlights: Welcome to Heartbreak, See You In My Nightmare, Amazing, Paranoid

7/10

1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour - Green Day

The earliest of early Green Day, that sounds so budget that it could almost be considered punk. Genuinely sounds like it was recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder at their school music room. 

Highlights: I Was There, Going To Pasalacqua, Paper Lanterns, I Want to Be Alone

6.5/10

1704 - Gelbison

This album in no way captures the emotion and raw energy with which this band performed these songs live. The soundscapes and expanse is still impressive, but I just know it could have been so much more.

Highlights: Kabana, Revolution, The Modern Station, Au Revoir Fucker

6.5/10

1980 x 1,000 - DJ Reggie

Oh, snap! DJ Reggie is back! And this time he has some very hurt feelings. But some of this might be his best work? The lyrics here are certainly right up there with his work on 48 Hours. Happy Birthday, Rachael Ray, even if it is not your birthday...

Highlights: I Am Alone, Bugs, Mystery Track Attack, Christmas is Wack

5.5/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 1940

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2025 in 2025: Day 191

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

10,000 Volts - Ace Frehely

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

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

8/10

11 - Bryan Adams

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

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

7/10

11:11 Eleven Eleven - Regina Spektor

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

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

6/10

12 Bar Blues - Scott Weiland

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

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

6/10

14 Shots to the Dome - LL Cool J

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

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

7/10

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

'Albums' listened to so far: 1925

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

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