2025 in 2025: Day 86

G is for Get ready for the GREATEST week!

Greatest - Duran Duran

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

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

8/10

Greatest Hats - Men Without Hats

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

8/10

Greatest Hits - Village People

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

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

8/10

Greatest Hits - Sublime

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

Highlights: What I Got, Santeria

6/10

Greatest Hits - The Cure

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

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

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 710

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 85

Gravity - Our Lady Peace

The irony of a band firing their long-time guitarist because they claimed he was not good enough, and then replacing him with a guy that does less than nothing and move their sound further towards generic radio rock is not lost on me. Also hilarious that the absolute best songs on the album were all co-written by and/or still feature their original guitarist. Make of that what you will. Innocent is the anthem of the century.

Highlights: Somewhere Out There, Innocent, Sorry, A Story About a Girl

8/10

The Great Christmas Album - The Christmas Angels

A mix of Xmas carols and Xmas classics, sung by a group of singers that range from acceptable to laughable, backed by simple midi sounds straight out of Logic. Since when is Amazing Grace a christmas song??

Highlights: The hilarity of the Rod Stewart imitator singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

4/10

The Great Christmas Album - Various Artists

Wow, how original. This is a collection of Xmas songs - not just carols, thank Prime - and at least they are actually sung by proper singers, like Bing Crosby, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. Somewhat more of an acceptable listen at Xmas time... which is 6 months from now...

Highlights: Jingle Bells - Big Crosby & The Andrews Sisters, Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Frank Sinatra, The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Vaughan Monroe

6/10

The Great New Zealand Songbook (Souvenir Edition) - Various Artists

This is a massive collection of NZ songs. I will be honest; I have already whittled this down a bit, because it was originally almost six hours long and there was no way I could survive having to deal with that with all the terrible stuff that was included. And this listen will hopefully get rid of some more. While I will contend that the selection process for this must have been very flawed, because there are some genuinely great NZ songs that are missing (e.g. Escaping by Margaret Urlich immediately comes to mind), there are a number of very good songs in here. In fact, this was not nearly as torturous as I was expecting!

Highlights: Heavenly Pop Hit - The Chills, Dominion Road - The Mutton Birds, For Today - Netherworld Dancing Toys, Give it a Whirl - Split Enz, Be Mine Tonight - The' Dudes

7/10

The Great Twenty-Eight - Chuck Berry

I am not going to say all twenty-eight are "great", as some of them are just "okay", I guess. But the ones that are "great" are so great, we probably would not have rock'n roll without them!

Highlights: Maybellene, Thirty Days, You Can't Catch Me, Too Much Monkey Business, Johnny B. Goode, No Particular Place to Go

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 705

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 84

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

Fun fact: back when I studied video production, I made it a point to include a song from this album on every video project I made - even if it was just a snippet. It felt like the right thing to do at the time. Bah gawd that opening run of four songs is legendary. There are actually a whole bunch of killer guitar riffs throughout this whole thing.

Highlights: Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding, Bennie and the Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

8/10

Goodies - Ciara

This is simply the song 1,2 Step and I have that because of Missy Elliot. Because when Missy is writing and producing your song, LOGMAN has got to have it.

7/10

Graduation - Kanye West

With all the nonsense going on in the world, it gets harder and harder to not just overlook how much of complete clown Kanye West is, but not have that completely infect his previous music. Like, I have not listened to anything he has released in probably 10 years now. Because he is a piece of shit. Having him still in my library while doing this is not only a chore, but just feels like going against principles in a way. I could have replaced these albums with music by someone better. I have never heard Kneecap, but they are all over the social media these days because of their outspoken Free Palestine activism. They would deserve a listen far more than this clownshoes. Fuck Kanye West.

Highlights: Stronger, Good Life, Can't Tell Me Nothing, Barry Bonds, Big Brother

8.5/10

Graffiti Bridge - Prince

Oh my this is funky! The movie is fine, but the musical performances in it are all very enjoyable. So it makes sense that the soundtrack is great. It never stops being funny hearing We Can Funk after hearing the original version (it is twice as long and he used a very different F word).

Highlights: New Power Generation, We Can Funk, Joy In Repetition, Thieves in the Temple, Graffiti Bridge

8/10

Grand World - Cool For August

This is album #700! My biggest opinion of this album is that the singer has a strange voice, but if you can get past it, he expresses quite a lot of passion and the songs themselves are very good, in a late 90s alt-style radio rock kind of way. That may not make sense... Anyways, this was probably one of my favourite albums around 1999-2002 and listening now I had almost forgotten how outstanding this actually is.

Highlights: Don't Wanna Be Here, Walk Away, Denial, Sylmar, Spinning

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 700

FREE PALASTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 83

GOiNG TO DESTRUCTiON - BiSH

Bah gawd this album rules the schools. Very little idol nonsense and a whole lot of punk attitude, wrapped up in some pop stylings. The whole thing is full of great hooks and big beats and screaming vocals and just awesomeness. So good I had to buy it three different times...

Highlights: in case..., STACKiNG, I have no idea., WiTH YOU, 狂う狂う, BROKEN

9/10

Gold - Cher

While I do appreciate her 60s and 70s music - it is mostly good light-hearted pop, some of it strangely racially-charged - I feel like Cher really came into her own once she hooked up with Richie Sambora. The 80s style pop-rock thing really suited her voice. Especially the power ballads. I also enjoy her late 90s/early 00s resurgence doing disco. Because LOGMAN loves disco. And Cher. Only song missing from this is her cover of Walking in Memphis - her live cut of that is fantastic.

Highlights: We All Sleep Alone, After All, If I Could Turn Back Time, Just Like Jessie James, Song for the Lonely

7.5/10

Gold - Ryan Adams

It is crazy to think DRA wanted this as a double-album; the cut tracks are mostly average (but mostly not great) and half of the remaining tracks are also kinda there. But boy howdy that first half of the album is brilliant. It tries to get back to that level around Harder Now That It's Over, and it certainly gets close. 

Highlights: New York New York, Firecracker, Answering Bell, La Cienaga Just Smiled, The Rescue Blues

8/10

Gold: Greatest Hits - The Everly Brothers

The title does not lie; this is pure rock'n roll gold. These dudes had beautiful harmonies.

Highlights: Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Susie, Rip It Up, Should We Tell Him, Poor Jenny

7/10

Gold Against the Soul - Manic Street Preachers

I forget how kickass this album is. Compared to their first album, there is nothing on the level of Stay Beautiful or Motorcycle Emptiness (I mean, that is a crazy high bar to set), but overall I enjoy this album more. Shorter, punchier, all great songs and a much better mix. James Dean Bradfield sounds very angry!

Highlights: From Despair to Where, Sleepflower, Yourself, Roses in the Hospital

8/10

Gold Cobra - Limp Bizkit

Ten years after their peak and ten years before they embraced being just a fun joke of a band. And Fred Durst was still "rapping" about bagging hawt women and fighting people. "So much ass in Los Angeles/It's definitely scandalous". Thought-provoking def jam poetry slam, to be sure.

Highlights: Gold Cobra, Shark Attack, Shotgun, 90.2.10

6/10

The Gold Experience - Prince

I mean, sure, he was actually the symbol at this point. But I just credit everything to Prince. And this album is one of his best. Or at least one of my favourites. Funk, rock, soul, ballads and awesomeness all wrapped in a nice gold bow. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is just phemonenal and Endorphinmachine is the most fun rockin' Prince song on the planet. I am even willing to overlook the overt religious lyrics on songs like Dolphin and Gold. That is just how this all this.

Highlights: Endorphinmachine, Shhh, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Gold

9/10

Gold Medal - The Donnas

I don't want to say this album is boring, because it is not quite that bad. But compared to the stellar Spend The Night, this is... 

Highlights: Don't Break Me Down, Fall Behind Me, It Takes One to Know One

6.5/10

The Golden Age of Wireless - Thomas Dolby

This is purely the song She Blinded Me with Science. It is classic 80s synth pop stuff.

7/10

Gone Troppo - George Harrison

Speaking of 80s synth pop stuff - George and his Moog are back having some summer fun.

Highlights: Dream Away, Wake Up My Love, Gone Troppo, That's the Way it Goes

7/10

Gonna Make You Sweat - C+C Music Factory

This is both super fun pop-rap dance stuff, and hard hitting 90s dancefloor jams. 90s dance stuff could super funky. This dude's raps are hilariously cringe at times. And surprisingly misogynistic!

Highlights: Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now), Here We Go Let's Rock & Roll, Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...., Bang That Beat

8/10

Good Bye - M to M

K-Pop ballad. Idol group? Handsome actor? A combo of both??

7.5/10

Goodbye [Single] - Spice Girls

Saying goodbye to Geri, but not really. Smart marketing. I was actually unpacking a box the other day and found my poster book from their split with Geri. What a time to be a Spice Girls fan. A sad time. Anyways, this song is beautiful and the tracks from Live at Wembley are also very, very good. The Mels completely nail Sisters (Are Doing It For Themselves) . Smashing stuff!

Highlights: Goodbye, Sisters (Are Doing It For Themselves), We Are Family [Live]

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 695

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 82

Get Ready - New Order

New Order's big comeback and not even Billy Corgan can bring it down. We can also thank this for The Killers getting their name. The middle part of this album goes from dark electronic beats to just straight-up radio rock. But the whole thing is bookended by just the most awesome songs - which are also a mix of dark head-drilling beats and simple radio-friendly rock. I always love the way they let the electronic songs build and layer the instruments - Peter Hook's bass work was more than just simple bass lines, more like melodies that added extra texture to the songs.

Highlights: Crystal, Turn My Way, Someone Like You, Close Range, Run Wild

8/10

Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent

Good luck finding me In da Club! This song has Eminem's fingerprints all over; matches his own style, with all the silly noises and background skits.

8/10

Get Rich or Die Tryin': Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture - 50 Cent

I only have the one song here - I'll Whip Ya Head Boy. Is this what they call mumble rap? Because I'll be damned if I can understand a word 50 is rapping here. I actually saw this movie! It was as dumb as this song.

5/10

Get Your Wings - Aerosmith

Middle of the road 70s Aerosmith. It is not bad at all - because Aerosmith did not learn how to be bad until the end of millennium - but it is not as awesome as they are capable of.

Highlights: S.O.S. (Too Bad), Train Kept a Rollin'

6.5/10

Ghetto Superstar - Pras

I was certain I had this full album, but apparently I only have Ghetto Superstar and Avenues. Which are awesome songs, so I am glad to at least still have them. How is it I disliked The Fugees but really enjoy the solo work from each member?

10/10

The Ghost of Tom Joad - Rage Against the Machine

I got this single when I purchased a Rage Against the Machine VHS. The song itself is on Renegades, so not really sure why I still have it. For the live songs? So I can have some killer Rage Against the Machine to get the party started on a rainy morning?

Highlights: The Ghost of Tom Joad, Vietnow (Live), The Ghost of Tom Joad (Live)

8/10

GiANT KiLLERS - BiSH

I cannot listen to this and not want to rock and dance and stomp a hole in the world. The best BiSH release. The best BiSH songs. That breakdown/bridge in Nothing. is the best. It is all just the best. I could listen to these five songs all day.

Highlights: GiANT KiLLERS, Marionette, Nothing., VOMiT SONG

10/10

Gimme Something Good [Single] - Ryan Adams

This is only the b-side Aching For More and it is in really bad quality. WTF? And it is actually fantastic.

9/10

Gin - Gin Wigmore

I knew this good run was going to end eventually. But to end so spectacularly badly?

Highlights: Under My Skin

4/10

A Girl Like Me - Emma Bunton

Sadly, this is purely the single What Took You So Long? I am somewhat surprised Emma Bunton never had more of a solo career. But if it means I get another Spice Girls reunion, then so be it!

8/10

Girl Power! Live In Istanbul - Spice Girls

This is the full concert; I'm guessing some of the songs are sourced straight from the video and the rest were b-sides on various singles. In case you are not a massive Spice Girls fan, this was their first ever live concert and the whole thing was broadcast live on TV. And then edited for VHS. And then (10 years later) DVD. Sure, their singing is nothing special live - Victoria is borderline awful - but they at least had a proper live band and that helps give the songs an extra kick in places.

Highlights: If You Can't Dance, Step to Me, Move Over [Encore], Wannabe [Encore]

7/10

Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli

I do no really care who actually sang these songs (I mean, obviously the real singers do deserve the credit), but these songs are serious jams and that can never be denied. Also, Milli Vanilli got a bad rapp and were totally thrown under the bus by their producer.

Highlights: Girl You Know It's True, Baby Don't Forget My Number, Blame it on the Rain

8/10

Girls, Girls, Girls - Mötley Crüe

Wild Side is all kinds of awesome badassery and Dancing on Glass is pretty darn cool, actually. Even some saxophone for added cool? And some type of gospel singer doing some "SWEET JESUS" warbling?? What the hell?? Sadly, Bad Boy Boogie does not continue the awesomeness. In fact, it's actually one of the dumbest Crüe songs you will ever hear. Like, I don't even understand what's going on here - Kiss lyrics against some weird blues riff with 80's production? Nona is non-anything. At least Five Years Dead has a cool opening riff. Except that's almost the entire song, so it feels like it just goes on and on. All In the Name of... is kinda ok. Except, again it's just the same riff over and over again. No wonder these dudes were doing so much drugs at this point. Sumthin' for Nuthin' is good - though I'm kinda confused by the big choir singing in the chorus, especially when it seems he's singing about being a gigolo? Again, 80's/drugs/insert reason. You're All I Need is some sort of attempt at an MTV ballad, I'm guessing. Except the lyrics are all about killing someone for not loving him back, so clearly this would have fit in better now. Except MTV don't play music videos now. Don't get me wrong, I know Nikki was having a good laugh writing this, but I feel like it would have been better served as a b-side or something. But considering the closing track on this album is a live cover of Jailhouse Rock, I am not convinced he had the cognitive ability to cobble together any other tracks at this point.

Highlights: Wild Side, Dancing on Glass, Sumthin' for Nuthin'

6.5/10

Gish - Smashing Pumpkins

What is more shocking than remembering I have a Smashing Pumpkins album in my iTunes library? Remembering I have two full Smashing Pumpkins albums in my iTunes library. Corgan's voice is not actually as annoying on this one, surprisingly. 

Highlights: Siva, Rhinoceros, Snail

6/10

Give 'Em Enough Rope - The Clash

Bah gawd I needed this after that. UK punk does not get any more classic and fun than this!

Highlights: Safe European Home, Tommy Gun, Drug-Stabbing Time, English Civil War

8/10

Glass Houses - Billy Joel

I get You May Be Right stuck in my head all the time, so quite a welcome listen. Lots of French lyrics and references going on here. Communist!

Highlights: You May Be Right, Sometimes a Fantasy, All for Leyna, Sleeping with the Television On

7/10

Glitter - Mariah Carey

MC and Nate Dogg is a combo I did not know I needed - but they could have left Ja Rule at home. Or at the homeless shelter. The pure audacity to ripoff Prince on I Didn't Mean to Turn You On! The general 80s grooves and super funky stylings are very cool, and MC doing her best to be sexy really suits it all. I remember this movie being.. a movie? I have it on blu-ray, in fact. I should watch it again!

Highlights: Loverboy, If We, I Didn't Mean to Turn You On, All My Life

7/10

Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Joan Jett albums usually contain a few killer tracks and then a bunch of filler. This album is the same, but without the former. There is nothing terrible, but it is all pretty standard fare. I am not convinced covering herself with Cherry Bomb was necessary. And it is a shame this was her last reissue. Give me the rest of her albums already!

Highlights: I Love You Love Me, Long Time, Someday, Push and Stomp

7/10

Glow Stars - Heather Nova

Heather Nova's first album is much less pop than anything else she has done since; very sparse and minimalist, and dare I say a bit darker? It relies too much on having spooky production or whatever, when I am sure they could have just made some proper songs instead. She has shown on every album since that she is more than capable!

Highlights: My Fidelity, Frontier, Shaking the Doll

5/10

GO 2 THE NEW WORLD - 2

This is not as balls-to-the-wall awesome as their follow up album (which we will get to in like 6 months), but still seriously rocks hard in parts. More of a UK indie garage rock sound than I initially expected. Cool guitar solos, as well!

Highlights: GO 2 THE NEW WORLD, FALL FALL FALL, SONG FOR YOU, LUCKY BOY

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 682

2025 in 2025: Day 81

The Game - Queen

When I was young, I would see reviews of this album that proclaimed a 5 star album and I really didn't quite get it. Now I absolutely do. It is pretty much pop rock perfection with a bit of a little bit of a throwback to old rock'n roll. And a side of super strong funk. Who thought Don't Try Suicide was a good idea? The bridge is great, but boy those lyrics are... a choice. This is not my favourite Queen album, mostly because it is the least 'Queen' sounding at times, but it may well be their most enjoyable listen.

Highlights: Dragon Attack, Another One Bites the Dust, Rock It (Prime Jive), Sail Away Sweet Sister

9/10

Gangnum Style - PSY

I do not trust anyone that cannot enjoy this song. It is a party.

10/10

Gangnum Style/2 Legit 2 Quit Mashup - PSY (feat. MC Hammer)

How do you make an awesome more awesome? Mix it with another awesome song! It is basically just Gangnum Style with the 2 Legit chorus at the end, but that is a very good idea.

10/10

Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio

Sadly, I do not have this full album. I should sort that out one day, because Coolio sure did have some cool(io?) moments. Especially the theme song for Kenan & Kel. That was a fun show. Coolio was a fun dude. Hip-hop should be fun sometimes.

Highlights: Gangsta's Paradise, 1 2 3 4 (Sumpin' New)

9/10

Garbage - Garbage

In hindsight, I feel like a lot of pop music today owe a lot to what Garbage brought out; that whole alt rock with electronicness was not really being done before them, and they really pushed it hard. I always find the guitars on this album way over produced, but I think that is intentional on their part to really work with the whole electronic thing. Also, I heard a live version of My Lover's Box that showed me they didn't really capture the real awesomeness of Shirley Manson. I would like to one day get the reissues, but I am glad I do not have them yet, because I have so much to listen to already that I do not need to add 60 remixes of Milk.

Highlights: Supervixen, Vow, My Lover's Box, Fix Me Now

8/10

Gene Simmons - Gene Simmons

I'm going to listen and review this without reading any of my earlier post to see if my position changes... and... nope. Possibly the worst album that I will not only continue to own and store in my iTunes library, but also plan on upgrading because I am stupid.

Highlights: Radioactive, See You in Your Dreams

5/10

General Ulysses S. Hospital - The Shit

This is probably the least memorable of The Shit's vast and incredibly discography. Seems to be mostly about poo and being sick? And ends with a party jam about sex? But before that is an ode to the poet Snoop Dogg and some philosophical musings on religious figures like Buddah and Jesus and the Michelin Man.

Highlights: Buddah vs. Jesus

6/10

Generation Swine - Mötley Crüe

The popular opinion is to trash this album. But LOGMAN does not subscribe to conventional ideas and thinks this album rocks and has done since 1997. Sure, it is a bit of a mess, and Bryan Adams somehow helped make one of the worst ballads ever (which is like the opposite of his powers), but gawdam some of these songs are fun as nuts. 

Highlights: Flush, Shout at the Devil '97

7.5/10

Generation Swine (2003 Remastered) - Mötley Crüe

Yeah this is pointless; just the bonus tracks from the re-release, because I'm too cheap to even buy a single Mötley Crüe remaster, apparently. I like one of these...

Highlights: Kiss the Sky

6/10

Generation Terrorists - Manic Street Preachers

My biggest take away from this album is it really needed an edit. While it features two of the Manic's best songs ever - possibly best songs by anyone ever? - and some other great rockin' tracks, there is a bit of filler that just makes the album drag. So cut some of that and give the whole thing a remix and you have yourself a killer album, perhaps?

Highlights: Motorcycle Emptiness, Stay Beautiful, Nat West - Barclays - Midlands - Lloyds, Methadone Pretty

7/10

George Harrison - George Harrison

Well, that certainly is a change of pace! This is George at possibly his most happiest and chilled, just a collection of nice pop songs. Some of them really good, actually. Even a song in reference to F1. Imagine being so successful in your career you can just take a year off to follow the F1 championship around the world...

Highlights: If You Believe, Faster, Love Comes to Everyone, Blow Away

7/10

Get a Grip - Aerosmith

Wow, I can not remember the last time I listened to this album. And my memory is really hazy about what I thought about it, because it has been a helluva jam today! Aerosmith with some hard rock boogie really does hit the spot. And those epic songs like Livin' on the Edge and Cryin' are just awesome. Bruce Fairbairn was dang great producer.

Highlights: Eat the Rich, Livin' on the Edge, Shut Up and Dance, Cryin', Amazing

9/10

Get Behind Me Satan - The White Stripes

Jack White sure does love his Whammy pedal. And I guess he just discovered various percussion instruments, because they are all over this album; marimbas, shakers, bells. It is like listening to one of DRA's stupid Garageband albums. In fact, The Nurse sounds exactly like one of those songs! It could easily be from a DJ Reggie album.

Highlights: Blue Orchid, My Doorbell, The Denial Twist

5/10

Get Nice! - Zebrahead

This ticks all the boxes for what I want in a pop-punk album; great riffs & hooks, singing about middle finger to the world, and just do your thing and have a great time. Even some references to Mötley Crüe and pro-wrestling! In true LOGMAN fashion, I have the Japanese version of this album that features two bonus tracks and holy balls they are worth it!

Highlights: Nothing to Lose, Get Nice!, Nudist Priest, This is Gonna Hurt You Way More Than It's Gonna Hurt Me, Light Up the Sky

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 662

2025 in 2025: Day 80

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Trash...
AKA LOGMAN Does an Oopsie!

So, I spent 24 hours travelling and listening to all this music that I've been working my way through. Which is all fine and dandy. Being that I was travelling, I kept all my scores/ratings and ramblings in notes on my phone. And then the most hilarious thing happened and I had to restore my phone before being able to do a backup. Which meant I lost all my data from the last 6 months - including all the listening history! Now how will I know how many times I listened to ELLEGARDEN and Queen back in December?!?

So I lost about 2 weeks of listening time sorting this all out. Plus all this music I listened to while travelling and getting sorted? You guessed it - I will have to listen to it and rate it and discuss it all over again. Which is a shame, because I am sure my original bLogging would have been super entertaining and full of extremely witty dialogue. For sure...

So let's get back to it! We are almost 6 months into 2025 and I am still barely a third through this...

F is for FarOutIHaveToListenToTheseFTDAlbumsAgain!

FTD062: An American Trilogy, January/February 1972 - Elvis Presley

Another live compilation in the form of an actual live setlist. The recordings for the most part are really good and the band are seriously on fire! Elvis' voice is definitely not at its best, though.

Highlights: Never Been to Spain, You Gave Me a Mountain, A Big Hunk O' Love

6.5/10

FTD092: As Recorded At Boston Garden '71, Boston, 10 November 1971 - Elvis Presley

This show is mostly decent, but the recording/mix is just not great. Almost sounds like an audience recording? The crowd were certainly hot! Elvis didn't even kiss everyone during Love Me Tender. Anyways, clearly the real king of the garden was Bret Hart. Both Boston and Madison.

Highlights: You've Lost that Loving Feeling, I Can't Stop Loving You, Suspicious Minds

6/10

Full Blast - MC Hammer

Really just a glorified EP from the Hammerman; five songs and then the instrumental version of said five songs. Look, part of what I will always love about Hammer is that he works in such a great pop/dance vibe in the hip-hop. But when the man is angry and lets loose on his diss work, it goes hard!

Highlights: Full Blast, Hard Times, I Used to Love Her

7/10

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - Sarah McLachlan

Last time I was listening to this album, I was wandering around Shanghai airport. This has probably been a more focused listen, which is great, because this album is pretty good and at times I really like McLachlan's voice and delivery. And whatever is going on musically, for the most part. It has been too long now to compare these versions to those found on the Freedom Sessions album, so one day next year I will have to do a direct back-to-back listen and comparison.

Highlights: Possession, Wait, Circle, Ice Cream

7/10

Fun in Space - Roger Taylor

This album sounds exactly like it came from someone involved in the creation of Queen's Hot Space album. In fact, some of these songs sound like they were reworked for that album - because some of them sound very similar. Whenever I read this album title, I get confused and start singing Prime Jive to myself. Because there is that line Roger Taylor sings about "rock in space" and the full title of the song is Rock It (Prime Jive). Try to keep up, please...

Highlights: No Violins, Let's Get Crazy, Airheads

6/10

A Funk Odyssey - Jamiroquai

Bah gawd this album blew my mind back in 2002 and was responsible for me becoming a Jamiroquai fan. Rob Harris' guitar work is so unbelievably funky and out of this world. And that bass line on Love Foolosophy is super funky. And then Stop Don't Panic features the sort of funk guitar that completely changes the game. Intergalactic Disco Express, right here.

Highlights: Little L, Love Foolosophy, Don't Stop Panic, Main Vein

8/10

The Funky Headhunter - MC Hammer

Hammer sans MC has no time for suckers talking smack. For the longest time, I thought It's All Good was on Too Legit To Quit. Kids are stupid. Especially the kids not listening to this album, because it is super awesome. Sure, as usual some of the songs are a bit long, and the whole album probably could have been edited down a bit (18 tracks at 1 hour 15 is genuinely not necessary), and my man don't need to be making me choose a side between him and Run DMC. And Hammer for sure wasn't all talk; Redman is on the record that Hammer came to him personally and had him apologising for talking trash, because Hammer don't play like that. Y'all busters should have just let Hammer do his pop super hype dancing!

Highlights: It's All Good, Don't Stop, Break 'em Off Somethin' Propa, It's All That, The Funky Headhunter

7/10

FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

I gushed stupidly about this album back when my bLog was just getting started - almost 20 years ago! Does the album hold up in 2025? Well... yes. Absolutely. Losing My Way is mostly a cool song, but the lyrics are pretty cringe; there is nothing about JT that I find relatable to a broke meth addict. Somehow I have ended up with a censored version, which annoys me in all the ways you could imagine. And it has a bunch of remixes at the end that are all unnecessary. Especially the one featuring Beyoncé. But especially 50 Cent being super lewd and gross. Otherwise, it is still a very great album that I just need to get back to the original uncensored un-deluxe version.

Highlights: SexyBack, My Love, LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude), What Goes Around.../... Comes Around (Interlude)

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 648

2025 in 2025: Day 79

F is for FTD!

FTD020: Elvis at the International, Las Vegas, 23 August 1969 - Elvis Presley

Bah gawd this is a fantastic live show. Elvis' return to the stage after 9 years and he is sure having fun. Suspicious Minds here is a bit more on the same pace as the studio version (unlike later versions where they basically have a challenge to see how fast they can play it). Hmmm... I need to rethink my lack of the 1969 live boxset in my collection...

Highlights: Suspicious Minds, What'd I Say, Baby What You Want Me to Do

7/10

FTD022: Studio B Nashville Outtakes 1961-64 - Elvis Presley

It is in the name. Outtakes of some of the most generic songs Elvis could have recorded in the 60s. I mean, it is all still fine and dandy, but there is not much that distinguishes anything these from the final masters.

Highlights: 

6/10

FTD031: So High - Nashville 1966-68

More Nashville outtakes? I must have a whole decade's worth by now. This at least has come great gospel tracks, because I loves me some Elvis gospel numbers. But, honestly, these last couple of FTD releases have felt more like compilations with some added studio chatter and possibly better mixes.

Highlights: Too Much Monkey Business [Take 4, 10], Run On [Take 6]

7/10

FTD032: The Impossible Dream, January 1971 - Elvis Presley

This is mostly one live show, but really a compilation of live shows edited together to give the feel of a single live show from Elvis' Las Vegas shows in January 1971. Because they were likely all the same setlist. Did you know that during the dinner shows (Elvis performed twice a day - first during dinner and the second at midnight), Elvis was under contract to limit his performance to an hour so that guests would go back to blowing their money at the casino? Interesting? Possibly more interesting than this album? The performances are fine, but the recordings are pretty blah.

Highlights: Johnny B. Goode, Release Me, It's Now or Never

5/10

FTD036: Polk Salad Annie, Las Vegas, February 1970 - Elvis Presley

More Elvis in Vegas? It really should not be that surprising that there are so many live concerts from Las Vegas, because Elvis spent a bunch of his post-film career doing residencies there. And at least this is good quality. And a few songs that I don't always see in the setlist, like Kentucky Rain. Which starts off awesome, but Elvis is too busy having fun to sing a ballad without laughing. A lot of the songs are a little bit of a slower tempo, which actually improves the groove. The introductions are hilarious; Elvis tells the crowd he "can't wait for this show to be over" and then gets completely confused between a lead guitar and a piano. Oh, there is a different drummer! That's why things are much tighter - they should have replaced Ronnie with this dude. Even the rehearsals are a fun listen.

Highlights: Walk a Mile in My Shoes, In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds

7/10

FTD053: Made In Memphis - Elvis Presley

More outtakes from the From Elvis in Memphis/Back in Memphis sessions? Nope, just a mix of outtakes that were recorded in Memphis. That's also fine by me, because that includes the Stax sessions. And then it all ends with some home recordings and Elvis reciting a heartfelt poem for his friends.

Highlights: You'll Think of Me [Take 8], Solitaire [Take 7], Bitter They Are Harder They Fall [Take 1]

6/10

FTD058: Live in Las Vegas 1969-72 - Elvis Presley

Another compilation of live tracks in Las Vegas. The 1969 stuff is seriously fantastic and Elvis' banter is at all-time hilarious high. This might be the only live version of Love Me Tender that does not involve Elvis kissing every woman in the audience. Upon further investigation, I have no idea what this album actually is... but it is great?

Highlights: Jailhouse Rock/Don't Be Cruel, Hound Dog, I Just Can't Help Believing, Suspicious Minds

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 640

2025 in 2025: Day 78

The FTD marathon continues...

FTD008: One Night in Vegas (10 August 1970) - Elvis Presley
This is actually the opening night of Elvis' Las Vegas residency that was recorded for the That's The Way It Is film (which itself completely rules). It is a great show. I didn't need more rehearsals at the end...
Highlights: I Can't Stop Loving You, You've Lost That Loving Feeling, Patch It Up
7.5/10 for the concert, 3/10 for Elvis doing yodels in rehearsal

FTD009: 6363 Sunset Boulevard
This is another collection of outtakes - this time from 1972 & 1975. This undubbed take of Always On My Mind is stellar. Other than that and a strange version of Burning Love, I am pretty sure I have the rest in similar form; the rehearsals from On Tour are probably included in that set and the outtakes from Today are very similar to the un-overdubbed versions found in that set.
Highlights: Always On My Mind [Take 3], Burning Love [Take 2], See See Rider [Take 2], T-R-O-U-B-L-E [Take 1]
6/10

FTD010: Easter Special - Elvis Presley
A collection of Gospel outtakes. I would say mostly like the masters, but some are slightly different. Like, a couple are a little bit faster and some have less overdubs going on. This version of Saved is bombastic! And I Got a Feeling in My Body is just... wooo!
Highlights: Saved [Take 1], If That Isn't Love [Take 2,6,7], I Got a Feeling in My Body [Take 6,7], I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs [Take 2,3]
7/10

FTD012: The Way It Was - Elvis Presley
Rehearsals for That's The Way It Is. And it starts of incredibly poor - not the performances, the recordings. The tape must have been found buried beneath 3 tonnes of mud and lava and dinosaur fossils. Thankfully, things get more listenable after a few songs. I definitely prefer I've Lost You without the horns and whatnot. Oh, there are actual live songs as well
Highlights: I've Lost You, I Can't Stop Loving You, You've Lost That Loving Feeling
6/10

FTD013: Memphis Sessions - Elvis Presley

This is a collection I enjoy a lot; I love From Elvis in Memphis (and Back in Memphis, to a lesser degree) and these are basically undubbed/slightly less polished versions. The harmonica is much more present in Stranger in My Own Home Town (and Elvis is just completely getting into the whole thing). It owns. This is the most chilled version of Suspicious Minds you will ever hear. FTD released a big 5-disc set of all this stuff a few years ago and I sometimes think I should have got it. Today is one of those days...
Highlights: Stranger In My Own Home Town [Undubbed Master], True Love Travels On A Gravel Road [Takes 6 & 7], Wearin' That Loved On Look [Takes 3 & 10], You'll Think Of Me [Take 14]

7/10

FTD014: Silver Screen Stereo - Elvis Presley

More movie song outtakes. I'm sure the world needed more versions of Clambake and to put more focus on those dodgy lyrics of Kissin' Cousins. Elvis going to go and get him cancelled again...
Highlights: Viva Las Vegas [#1, 2], The Lady Loves Me [#9], C'mon Everybody [#1, 2, 3], There's So Much World To See [Alternate Master]

6/10

FTD016: Fame and Fortune - Elvis Presley

Outtakes from the Elvis is Back sessions. Mostly. And they sound mostly like the finished masters. Mostly.

Highlights: Make Me Know It [Take 11], Stuck On You [Take 1], Such a Night [Take 1], Girl Next Door Went a Walking [Takes 1,2,3]

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 633

2025 in 2025: Day 77

AKA More Elvis Marathons

I have a whole bunch of Elvis 'Follow That Dream' releases that are all coming up now, because they are labelled in my iTunes as "FTD0xx:". The numbers will jump all over the place, because I have already eliminated the ones that were later released as part of another set (e.g. FTD001 was the 68 Comeback Special outtakes/rehearsals, which were later included in the 40th and 50th anniversary collections). I would imagine that listening to these now will help eliminate some of them from my library, because I really have enough Elvis outtakes and rehearsal on all my box sets.

FTD002: Out In Hollywood - Elvis Presley
This is all alternate takes of songs from movies. There are no undiscovered gems here. The only thing that really stands out is after singing Lonely Man, the engineer can be heard telling Elvis it was "beautiful" and Elvis thanks him for the compliment. Young Elvis was a rebel, but also hella respectful and genuinely appreciated that people liked his voice. Actually, the real highlight here is an isolated vocal overdub of for You're So Square. Quite fun to just here Elvis' voice like that.
Highlights: King of the Whole World [Take 3], Little Egypt [Take 21], Spinout [Take 2]
5/10

FTD003: In A Private Moment - Elvis Presley
This is all very pointless; Elvis jamming with friends and recorded very poorly (as one would expect), and mostly just quick little bits of songs.
Highlights: Impressive these exist, I'll give them that
4/10

FTD004: The Jungle Room Sessions - Elvis Presley
Now this is actually very enjoyable. I can not believe I still have not picked up the other Jungle Room set that would make this obsolete. I love these late 70's numbers and getting them without the overdubs. And Elvis' "Italian" version of Moody Blue is rather entertaining.
Highlights: Fire Down Below [Instrumental], Moody Blue [Take 3], Bitter They Are Harder They Fall [Take 2-5], Solitaire [Take 3]
7/10

FTD005: Long Lonely Highway - Elvis Presley
Alternate takes of a bunch of fantastic 60s tracks. Including a very different version of Too Much Monkey Business.
Highlights: It's Now or Never [Alternate Take 1]. It Feels So Right [Alternate Take 3], Long Lonely Highway [Alternate Take 1], Too Much Monkey Business [Alternate Take 9]
6/10

FTD007: Too Much Monkey Business - Elvis Presley
This is all so weird I actually had to google to understand what was going on here; in the early 80s, Elvis' long-time producer tried to cash in on things by taking some old Elvis vocals and getting a team of musicians to redo the music in a more "modern" way, and this FTD release is the original album PLUS 10 bonus tracks from the same "sessions". We can mock, but they are still doing this sort of thing with Elvis' songs to this day. Look, I am not trying to say these are the definitive versions or anything, but it is kind of fun.
Highlights: Burning Love, After Loving You, Too Much Monkey Business, Blue Suede Shoes
6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 626

2025 in 2025: Day 76

Friendly Fire - Sean Lennon

Poor dude has a name that means his music could never live up to expectations. But this album is not that bad - there are a few standout tracks and the rest is mostly okay. Some of it almost reminds me of Supergrass.

Highlights: Spectacle, Would I Be the One

6.5/10

Frog Trouble - Various Artists

Well, this is simply the song When Pigs Fly by Ryan Adams. I'm sure there is a story behind this album/song, but I'm not interested today.

Highlights:

6/10

From Elvis in Memphis - Elvis Presley

This is possibly the most proper Elvis album since 1956. And probably the last. And likely the best. Of course I have the Legacy Edition which has a bunch of bonus tracks that do not really add anything, but the mix and remaster on this is just perfect. But that version of Hey Jude is awful. 1968/69 Elvis was the coolest guy on the planet.

Highlights: Long Black Limousine, I'm Movin' On, True Love Travels on a Gravel Road, Any Day Now

9/10 (although much lower if I include the bonus tracks)

From Under the Cork Tree - Fall Out Boy

The coolest emo-punk album of mid-00s? That bridge/breakdown/whateveryouwanttocallit in Dance, Dance is super awesome. I'm sucker for a half-time change-up in the middle of a punk song. Pretty funny hearing them sing lines about being old. Mofos were only, what, 25 when they made this? My dudes, we are old now. 

Highlights: Of All the Gin Joints in All the World, Sugar We're Going Down, Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year, XO

8/10

Frontiers - Journey

Have we discussed Steve Perry's voice? That dude was so great. Between him, Arnel Pineda and Jimmy Barnes, it is like these guys will only work with singers that can seriously bring it. And Neil Schon's guitar tone is pretty sweet. Like all albums in my Journey collection (my Journey journey?), this has a bunch of bonus tracks - this time from soundtracks and such. I had no idea they did a song for Tron, or Ask The Lonely was from a John Travolta movie. But then I am not exactly known for being a Journey biographer (a Journey's journey journeyman?).

Highlights: Faithfully, Ask the Lonely, Edge of the Blade, Rubicon

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 621

2025 in 2025: Day 75

Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

A whole bunch of super cool riffs. These dudes were the kings of the mid-00s indie rock sound... for about 6 months.

Highlights: Jazqueline, Take Me Out, Auf Achse, Michael

8/10

Freaks (Radio Edit) [Single] - Timmy Trumpet & Savage

Savage has such a rad voice. And this song is still surprisingly enjoyable.

8/10

The Freddie Mercury Album - Freddie Mercury

What better way to cash in on a rock legend's death by releasing a compilation of solo songs and remixes a year after his passing? I still remember when The Great Pretender was released and people were shook at seeing Freddie without his moustache again. 

Highlights: In My Defence (Ron Nevison Mix), Barcelona, The Great Pretender, Time (Nile Rodgers Mix), Mr. Bad Guy (Brian Malouf Mix)

8/10

FREE URSELF [Single] - Prince

I won the gamble on this one.

9/10

The Freedom Sessions - Sarah McLachlan

Very chilled - even by Sarah McLachlan standards. Mostly acoustic versions of songs that I will listen to next week? So let's see what I think of them then!

Highlights: Mary, Good Enough, Ice Cream, Ol' 55

6.5/10

Frehley's Comet - Frehley's Comet

It feels like forever since I had some Kiss, so getting some Ace is a very welcome kick after the chill-ness of most of this morning's playlist. I don't think I mentioned this last time, but the original version of Into the Night was actually in an episode of Miami Vice. They should have used the Frehley's Comet version to make the show even more perfect.

Highlights: Rock Soldiers, Into The Night, Calling to You, Stranger in a Strange Land

8/10

Freight Train Heart - Jimmy Barnes

Fun fact: American Idol's Randy Jackson played bass on half of this album - I'm guessing it was when he was part of Journey, because they played on half of this album as well. They killed it. Bah gawd Driving Wheels just has the most driving rhythm section and kicks lots of butt. This whole album does, actually. 

Highlights: Driving Wheels, Last Frontier, Walk On, Seven Days

9/10

The Freightwhaler Sessions - Freight Whaler

How does it work having the name spelt two different ways? We are unable to agree on the spelling? Are DRA fans just annoying like that? This is actually... very good.

Highlights: Bar Lights, The Ghosts are Out Tonight, Sometimes That's Hard to Do

7.5/10

Friction, Baby - Better Than Ezra

I used to have this album, but then traded it in, because it is not very good. But I kept one song - Desperately Wanting. Because it IS very good.

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 616

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 72

The Final Countdown - Europe

Yeah, this is purely the title track. And it stomps. One of the most iconic intros of all time.

8/10

FiNAL SHiTS - BiSH

The beginning of the end (AKA BiSH is OVER) and while the main single is fine, the b-side is actually way cooler. Go figure.

Highlights: NOT FOREVER

8/10

Final Straw - Snow Patrol

I forgot how great most of this album actually is. Great lyrics, interesting vocal delivery (in the sense that he's almost just talking softly mostly the time), and rocking numbers without rocking too hard. Then coupled with a few epic kind of ballads and some lo-fi chill as well.

Highlights: How to Be Dead, Chocolate, Run, Spitting Games, Same

8/10

Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces - Seether

No idea how or why I have this. Luckily, it is just one song - Fake It.

5/10

Firestarr - Fredro Starr

I think this dude was on like Moesha or something? He's like DMX-lite and he is Dyin' 4 Rap. But the dude was down with JMJ, so that will always win points with me.

8/10

The First Recording - Heather Nova

Even back when her name was Heather Frith. Very simple acoustic numbers.

Highlights: These Walls

6.5/10

FIVE - Ayumi Hamasaki

The most perfect Ayu E.P.? Dance rock, fun bop, epic power ballad, beautiful ballad and then just epic over the top nonsense?

Highlights: progress, Why..., beloved

10/10

Fixurlifeup [Single] - 3RDEYEGIRL

One of my gripes with Prince in the modern-era was his inconsistency when it came to singles; sometimes they were just a single, sometimes they would end up on an album. So you just had to play roulette with buying the single and hope it didn't end up on an album. And, of course, this one did.

7/10

Flame Vein +1 - Bump of Chicken

Something about Bump of Chicken I can't put my finger on... like, they are good, and I enjoy listening to them... but nothing ever really stands out that much?

Highlights: ガラスのブルース, アルエ, ノーヒットノーラン, ナイフ, バトルクライ

7/10

Flaming Schoolgirls - The Runaways

I love The Runaways, but this really is a weird compilation; The Beatles' covers are not good and the Hollywood Cruisin' skit is just pointless, but then we get some cool live tracks that absolutely rock. They could have just added them to the Live in Japan album - a deluxe edition of that would be most welcome.

Highlights: C'mon, Blackmail, Is It Day or Night?, Secrets

6.5/10

Flash Back Summer End [Single] - INKYMAP

Nothing like some quickfire INKYMAP to rock the summer party. Honoh is not like anything else they've ever released.

Highlights: Flash Back Summer End, Honoh

8/10

Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack) - Queen

I remember a while back this album started getting a bit of a resurgence with internet nerds or something. There are really only two actual songs on here. And the versions of Flash's Theme are both different structurally to the single version. It has been a very long time since I watched the film, but I feel like this soundtrack moves in chronological order?

Highlights: Flash's Theme, The Hero, Football Fight, Battle Theme, Flash's Theme Reprise

7/10

Flashback - Joan Jett

A whole bunch of random Joan Jett tracks. Some are worthwhile, some are just kinda there. Which is always the case with these kinds of compilations. And, let's be honest, most of Joan Jett's albums. However, I forgot about Joan rapping and that is the greatest moment of the 80s.

Highlights: Be My Lover, Black Leather, Light of Day, MCA

7.5/10

Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture - Various Artists

Would you believe that this is not the complete album? Particularly when there are so many great musicians involved with it. I should turn in my 80s membership...

Highlights: Flashdance... What a Feeling - Irene Cara, Maniac - Michael Sembello

9/10

Flavors of Entanglement - Alanis Morissette

Alanis going full in to electropop. Guy Sigsworth's production and just general song-shaping hold up - this album does not really sound dated at all. Today seems to be a day for forgotten gems in my library.

Highlights: Underneath, Versions of Violence, Tapes, Incomplete

7/10

Flavors of Entanglement (Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc) - Alanis Morissette

These are the most middle of the road bonus tracks one could ask for. Alanis enjoys tequila.

Highlights: Limbo No More

6/10

Flesh & Wood - Jimmy Barnes

Barnesy goes unplugged. Covers and collabs and reworkings. I could do without the fiddle, because that makes things a bit more country, but otherwise this is all pretty decent.

Highlights: The Weight, Ride the Night Away, Fade to Black, Still Got a Long Way to Go

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 583

2025 in 2025: Day 71

Feast on Scraps - Alanis Morissette

This is a bunch of outtakes from the Under Rug Swept sessions. They are kind of good; fairly typical of the time, but certainly there is a reason they did not make the cut for the album.

Highlights: Fear of Bliss, Sister Blister, Offer, Unprodigal Daughter

7/10

February Son - Oleander

This is only the song I Walk Alone. Which is super awesome and I have no idea why I have never heard any other songs from this album or by this band.

10/10

Feel gHood Muzik : The 8th Wonder - Drunken Tiger

How do I have so much more Korean hip-hop than Japanese? And I have quite a bit of this dude. Especially considering this is a double-album. The lyrics in English are... bad. I am not exaggerating; lines like "A little bump'n grind is fine so long as I don't pee on you". And there are a whole lot of references to American hip-hop songs - sometimes it is pretty silly. Otherwise, this album is surprisingly groovy and I really dig it! Also points for a shoutout to JMJ.

Highlights: Rebel Music, Partner, Feel Good Music, Don't Cry, Guitar Missing the 6th String

7/10

Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That) [Single] - Flight of the Conchords

New Zealand's answer to Band Aid and USA For Africa. Except a million times more hilarious.

8/10

Feel the Laser - WereWolph

Best metal opening riff possible. Did he say margarine is haunting a school?? I don't think this dude should be mocking Ben Affleck and Matt Damon - they still have careers! This is mostly terrible, but also mostly quite fun?

Highlights: Evil Weekend, Dead People Unite and Take Over, Pink is NOT Your Color

5/10

Fever - Kylie Minogue

This has got to be one of Kylie's most solid albums; the pure pop disco of this thing is just off the hook! Pretty sure kids still say that these days. Also, let's be real - hottest album cover of all time.

Highlights: Love at First Sight, Can't Get You Out of My Head, Give It To Me, Love Affair, Your Love

8/10

Fight the Tide - Sanctus Real

Christian emo. It was really big with Christians in the mid-00s. Might be still? Some of it is still not too bad; if you ignore they singing undying love for a zombie and telling you how to be better person, then it is all good.

Highlights: Everything About You, The Fight Song, Alone

5/10

Fille! Fille! Fille! - 南波志帆

It is 1967. You are sitting in a bar in Hiroshima, smoking and drinking a strong beverage. Except it is 2018 and you do none of those things, but the soundtrack is the same. Except dreamier.

Highlights: Fille! Fille! Fille!, テリトリー

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 566

2025 in 2025: Day 70

Family Affair - MC Hammer

Lots of preaching and reworking songs from Too Tight (Hammer's aborted album at Death Row). And a song by Tupac? And then some reworking of a couple of older songs. They are not as good as the originals. I like Hammer, and this is all fairly harmless, but I am still not convinced this needed to be a double-album.

Highlights: Never Without You, Praise Dance Theme Song, Unconditional Luv, Keep On, Let's Get it Started

6/10

fantasia - LAMP IN TERREN

Another band I forget are very good. I have another album from them and I always seem to listen to that more, so that makes listening to this now a timely reminder that this album is also solid and deserves more attention.

Highlights: キャラバン, 地球儀, 涙星群の夜, at (liberty), eve

7/10

Far - Regina Spektor

Comments about god and war are pretty silly coming from a staunch Zionist. By the time we got to this album, I feel like her quirkiness is overwhelming the actual good songwriting.

Highlights: Eet, Dance Anthem of the 80's

5/10

Fasterpiece - Sad Dracula

I think after his whole being cancelled, DRA should have just changed his name to Sad Dracula and released music that way. Because it suits the way he acts these days. This album is kind of decent, being that whole 80s college radio sound, but it does run out of steam.

Highlights: Starfire, California Gasoline, Lost and Found, S.O.S., Waiting for the Sun

6.5/10

The Fat of the Land - The Prodigy

Almost 30 years later and this album still kicks all the butt everywhere all the time. Punk dance music at its absolute finest (and butt kicking). That cover of Fuel My Fire is like a whole different banana.

Highlights: Smack My Bitch Up, Breathe, Narayan, Fuel My Fire

9/10

Fear of Flying - Mya

This is just Case of the Ex. Whatever happened to Mya? She was like the whole package.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 558

2025 in 2025: Day 69

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

Faith - The Cure

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

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

7/10

Faithless Street - Whiskeytown

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

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

5.5/10

FAKE METAL JACKET - BiSH

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

*Clearly overstating like a mofo

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

8.5/10

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

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

8/10

False Smiles - Amy Studt

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

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

6.5/10

The Fame - Lady Gaga

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

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

7/10

The Fame Monster - Lady Gaga

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

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

9.5/10

Familiar To Millions - Oasis

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

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

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 552

2025 in 2025: Day 68

Exit The Dragon - Urge Overkill

This album has the weird vibe of being super low-fi and indie sounding, while simultaneously being wholly overproduced. It was the end of grunge, so it all makes sense. It was also probably the last album I bought on cassette! These might not be their best work, but there are some seriously glorious moments of awesome riffs in otherwise average songs - that kind of bridge part in This Is No Place being a prime example. And who else could make a compelling song about playing Monopoly?

Highlights: The Break, Take Me, Last Night/Tomorrow, And You'll Say

8/10

Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix - Jimi Hendrix

Where is Hollywood Hogan and his WCW belt-strumming? Legit never get tired of hearing that. But I would probably say All Along the Watchtower features some of the coolest guitaring of the 60s.

Highlights: All Along the Watchtower, Little Wing, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Purple Haze, Fire

7/10

Exposed - Vince Neil

I actually dig this album a lot; it is Vince Neil just doing the stereotypical 80s hair metal - because that is all he knows - and Steve Stevens is just the absolute greatest. He is all over this album, writing cool riffs and shredding up a storm and making crazy sounds that lazer noises with his guitar. Despite that, I still prefer the Encino Man version of You're Invited (But You're Friend Can't Come), but otherwise this a very cool album. If you dig 80s hair metal... which people in 1993 did not, so much.

Highlights: Look in Her Eyes, The Edge, You're Invited (But You're Friend Can't Come), Forever

8/10

Extra Texture - George Harrison

Since the great disbanding of The Beatles, this was Harrison's most... average album. I think the critiscm and failure of Dark Horse left him going very middle of the road on this one. There are still some great moments, but that is just my assumption. Might even just be the production, because the 'Platinum Weird' version of This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying) is a bit of an improvement over the original.

Highlights: You, The Answer's at the End, A Bit More of You, This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying) [Platinum Weird Version]

7/10

Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple

I don't really have much to say about this album. As good as Fiona Apple can be, this album is mostly songs that don't quite reach the heights they possibly could have. Lyrically, she is still top tier - as evidenced in songs like Red Red Red.

Highlights: Oh Well, Please Please Please, Red Red Red

6.5/10

Extreme - Extreme

One of the interesting things in the rock/metal world over the last few years is seeing people finally give Nuno Bettencort the respect he deserves - but only because he threw away what made him so awesome and just decided to shred the universe to pieces on a guitar solo. What I love about him is how awesome he clearly is, while still playing super tastefully on tracks. And then melting faces on songs like Play With Me. This album is good fun cheese. I kind of miss using the Kid Ego moniker for music and everything, but I am not a kid anymore...

Highlights: Kid Ego, Watching Waiting, Mutha (Don't Wanna Go to School Today), Play With Me

8/10

Extremely Live - Vanilla Ice

So you are the biggest star in pop/rap with a few number one singles, a number one album, a successful tour, and what do you do to follow up? A bad live album! I guess this probably came after Cool As Ice, but that was also far from a raving success. In fairness, there are a few "new" songs on here, but why not record them properly and release a new album? Or even an E.P.? And then throw on your 10-minute version of Ice Ice Baby as a bonus track or something. 

Highlights: Ice Ice Baby [Miami Drop Mix], Road to My Riches, Satisfaction [Studio Version]

6/10

Eyes Open - Snow Patrol

I had a thing for Snow Patrol after Final Straw and this album was some sort of worldwide smash because of that sad song being in Grey's Anatomy. That kind of killed them for me. Also my iTunes has labelled this album as "Alternative & Punk" and I find that personally offensive.

Highlights: Hands Open, Chasing Cars, It's Beginning to Get to Me, Open Your Eyes

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 544

2025 in 2025: Day 67

Evil Empire - Rage Against the Machine

Good Morning! Wake UP! Kids these days have no idea the anticipation for this album... and subsequent disappointment. And while I, too, subscribe the idea that these dudes simply doing their self-titled debut album and then disappearing would have been epic, I actually dig this album. Much more funk-based, and a little bit rougher around the edges. 

Highlights: People of the Sun, Vietnow, Revolver, Down Rodeo

7.5/10

Evolution - Journey

This is one of the most straight-forward 70s rock albums from Journey. That opening is very Queen-esque. Journey are always a good time, even if this album is not very memorable.

Highlights: Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', When You're Alone (It Ain't Easy), Daydream, Lady Luck

7/10

Ewok Celebration - Meco

Jeebus. The hilarity of the Ewok song being re-recorded by Meco is just beyond expectation - it also includes "C3PO" doing his "rap" again. Sadly, there are only 2 songs from Return of the Jedi here. But that is likely because there really are no new themes in that movie. John Williams is severely overrated. So the rest of this album is an 80s remix of the Star Wars theme and then actual songs from other 80s movies. And the series Simon and Simon?

Highlights: Theme from 'Simon and Simon', Maniac (From 'Flashdance')

5/10

Exile on Daisy Street - Ryan Adams

A bunch of noise. Badly recorded noise. At one point, Adams asks someone if they can understand what he is singing and they reply they cannot. That about sums it up, I think.

Highlights: Blue Door is almost listenable?

2/10

Exile on Franklin Street - Ryan Adams

If recorded better, some of these songs could have been good. Some of them. In fact, a few of them did turn up in more complete versions along the way.

Highlights: The Last Dance

4.5/10

Exile on Mainstream - Matchbox Twenty

This is a good collection of old and new. The new being almost 20 years old at this point. And the good being very good.

Highlights: How Far We've Come, I'll Believe You When, All Your Reasons, Bent, Unwell, Bright Lights

7/10

Exit Planet Dust - The Chemical Brothers

This may be controversial, but I think this album is much weaker than Dig Your Own Hole. It is still pretty good and a great precursor to what these dudes were capable of, but it just lacks the real big hooks and massive beats. Plus, no icon of Britpop on any of the songs (Noel Gallagher, Bernard Sumner, Richard Ashcroft). At least we get some Beth Orton?

Highlights: In Dust We Trust, Leave Home, Song to the Siren, Chico's Groove, Alive Alone

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 536

2025 in 2025: Day 66

Escape - Journey

That opening song is ridiculous and the rest of the album cannot live up to it, but still a decent album overall. Nothing bad. A few great songs.

Highlights: Don't Stop Believin'

7.5/10

Escape - Enrique Iglesias

Now THIS is an Enrique Iglesias album! Pop dance coolness personified. The Spanish version of Escape (Escapar) is hilarious, because they didn't bother to redo the backing vocals where he still sings in English. Maybe Enrique did not want to attempt to hit that high note again? Same thing happens in No Apagues La Luz, so I am definitely going to assume that. Or the producer did not want to have to hear Enrique attempt the high notes. Maybe both!

Highlights: Escape, Don't Turn Off the Lights, Maybe, Heroe

9/10

The Essential Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson

This is just a handful of songs that are not on MJ's solo albums pre-Off The Wall - mostly consists of Jackson 5 songs. Which only serves to remind me that I do not have any Jackson 5 albums, so am officially a loser.

Highlights: I Want You Back, ABC, Blame it on the Boogie, Can You Feel It

8/10

The Essential O'Jays - The O'Jays

And if only to further emphasise my loser status, this is only the song Love Train. It is a perfect soul jam, but I really should have more O'Jays. What a loser.

10/10

Euphoria - Enrique Iglesias

What is this? Awesome Enrique day?? The Spanish language tracks on this are stronger than the English ones, but that is not such a surprise. I Like It is awesome no matter if Pitbull appears or not.

Highlights: I Like It, Cuando Me Enamoro, Dile Que, Everything's Gonna Be Alright

7/10

Even More Dazed and Confused (Music From the Motion Picture) - Various Artists

They should have just released a big box set of all the music in the movie. Because the whole movie is full of awesome 70s rock songs. Never Been Any Reason must be one of the most underappreciated gems of the entire music world.

Highlights: No More Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper, Never Been Any Reason - Head East, Balinese - ZZ Top

7/10

Everybody!! - WANIMA

These guys never fail to raise a smile. I wish the weather was sunny to give them the respect they deserve! Plus it just feels wrong to listen to this kind of awesome summer music when it is grey and cloudy and I don't have a nice cold Pepsi...
Highlights: OLE!!, シグナル, ヒューマン, CHARM, ANCHOR

8.5/10

Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers

Sometimes I think I do not actually like Manic Street Preachers as much as I think I do. Does that make sense? Like, I have this idea in my head that they are an awesome band that I really like, but then when I listen to them I don't actually dig it as much as I think I am going to. Anyways, I came in to listening to this album now thinking that way, but turns out I do like it a lot; A Design For Life is a bonafide 5 star hall of fame classic, and the rest of the album is pretty darn solid, as well. I have the 10th Anniversary edition or something, and it has all these live tracks that come after the album and kill the good vibe I was leaving with. They must go.

Highlights: A Design For Life, Australia, Interiors (Song for Willem De Kooning)

8/10 for the original album, 7/10 with all the other stuffs

Everything Must Go: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition [Disc 2] - Manic Street Preachers

The demos are kind of fine? Certainly interesting from a development point of view. The rehearsals are... pointless. Unless you want to hear a badly recorded distorted live recording? The b-sides are mostly okay and b-sides for a reason. This is the stuff that makes me think I think I like them more than I actually do...

Highlights: Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky [Demo], Australia [Stephen Hague Production], The Girl Who Wanted To Be God [Stephen Hague Production]

5.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 529

2025 in 2025: Day 65

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Albums" listened to so far: 520

2025 in 2025: Day 64

Emancipation - Prince

People can feel free to disagree with me, but this album is pure Prince-styled R&B. I am not a huge fan of the production, but it is generally a very solid album and gets harder as it gets going. Elvis gets a shout out on Face Down, so that continues my new Easter tradition? It also features a whole mess of Prince swearing, which I find refreshing. From about near the end of disc 2 to the end of disc 3 is seriously good times.

Highlights: The Holy River, Saviour, Friend Lover Sister Mother/Wife, Slave, New World, The Love We Make, Emancipation

8/10

The Emancipation of Mimi - Mariah Carey

So much going at the start of this - pretty sure about 7 different songs/artists getting referenced/sampled/ripped-off. I also love that MC just drops these insane high notes in the background at the end of a song to kind of prove she's still got it. And she sure does. And then some. Talk about a real comeback album - my girl Mariah came back with some of her coolest songs?

Highlights: We Belong Together, Shake It Off, Mine Again, Your Girl

7/10

Emergency on Planet Earth - Jamiroquai

Ah the old didgeridoo and world/jazz fusion days of Jamiroquai. Stuart Zender on bass is a groovy beast. So much funk going on.

Highlights: When You Gonna Learn (Digeridoo), Too Young to Die, If I Like It I Do It, Revolution 1993

7.5/10

The Eminem Show - Eminem

Man, why is this dude so angry? He was at the peak of his popularity at this point and produced a very dark and angry album. Every skit involves a gun. As someone that watches MMA, I am pretty over people using Till I Collapse as a walkout song. 

Highlights: Till I Collapse, Business, Square Dance, Without Me, Say What You Say

6/10

Emotions - Mariah Carey

Early 90s R&B Mariah. Which is... surprisingly great, at times. Bah gawd that young woman could sing the hell out of anything. 

Highlights: Emotions, And You Don't Remember, If It's Over

6/10

Empire State of Mind [Single] - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys should always double-track her vocals.

8/10

The Empire Strikes Back - Meco

I think the official title of this is actually Meco Plays Music from the Empire Strikes Back, according to the album artwork. It could be called Meco Improves the Music from The Empire Strikes Back, because The Imperial March is way more awesome as a struttin' disco song than one could have imagined. 

Highlights: The Empire Strikes Back Medley, Battle in the Snow, The Force Theme, Asteroid Field and Finale

9/10

Empty Room/Nutshell - Ryan Adams

Yet another single from DRA, this time including a cover of one of Alice in Chains' most popular songs. Both of these are fine, but not exactly memorable.

Highlights: It is just two songs and they are fine

6/10

Encino Man: Music from the Original Motion Picture - Various Artists

We used to listen to this album a lot back in the day. Well, at least the first four songs. This version of You're Invited (But Your Friend Can't Come) is so much cooler than the Exposed version. Cheap Trick's version of Wild Thing is so off the wall that I didn't even realise it was Cheap Trick. You may be surprised to find that I thoroughly enjoy the Queen song on here, even if it is a remixed version. Then there is a funk rock version of Mama Said Knock You Out, which is fine? It's also somewhat ironic that Vince Neil and Jon Corabi would appear (separately) on the same album shortly before Corabi took his job. And I got Edgar Winter confused with Edgar Wright. What a wild ride.

Highlights: You're Invited (But You're Friend Can't Come) - Vince Neil, Stone Cold Crazy [Remix] - Queen, Frankenstein - Edgar Winter, Young and Dumb - Scream

6.5/10

ENCORE SHOW - SCANDAL

Idol-pop-punk-era SCANDAL is always fun. There may not be anything all that outstandingly amazing, but it is all very fun and upbeat, without sounding like idol silliness. That is an achievement and a very admirable quality.

Highlights: 君に嫉妬中, KOSHI-TANTAN, Midnight Television, Shining Sun

7/10

Encounters of Every Kind - Meco

This is a misleading title; it makes you think it is all about Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but it is not. Which is lucky, because I have never actually seen that movie. The first track is a medley of many different theme songs - I can pick out a few westerns, but that is about it. Then there are some original disco tracks. And some more stuff I don't know what they are. Then the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I'm guessing... 

Highlights: Time Machine, Meco's Theme/3W.57, Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 513