Join The Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978-2001 - The Cure
Being a chronological collection, the first disc is mostly post-punk early The Cure. I am a bit conflicted as to the inclusion of a song that was re-recorded here, though. Robert Smith's voice is so different it really sticks out. Disc 2 is where we get stuff that I prefer; 80s darkwave is where The Cure are best. And Throw Your Foot may well be the most pure 80s pop song they made. Disc 3 is also my jam, but it is wild that this only covers 1 album and then a bunch of soundtrack songs (that are all stupendous). But then I am one of those weirdos that appreciates Wish. Half of disc 4 is just remixes and alternate versions. It is fun to think that this collection is 20 years old now - which almost covers the same period of this collection - so maybe we will get a volume 2 at some point? It would be far less exhaustive, considering they have only released 3 albums in that time (as opposed to the 11 they released between 1978 and 2001 - plus all the singles and EPs), but it would mean I could get rid of those b-sides collections I had to listen to earlier...
Highlights: The Exploding Boy, Burn, Pillbox Tales, Throw Your Foot, Sugar Girl, Snow in Summer, Play, Halo
6.5/10
Join With Us - The Feeling
This album starts off strong and the title track is absolute fire. From there, it is a bit average. Still somewhat enjoyable, but just does not quite click for me. Maybe I judge too harshly, since their first album was just a big bag of fun?
Highlights: Join With Us, I Thought It Was Over, Without You, The Greatest Show on Earth
6.5/10
Josie and The Pussycats: Music from the Motion Picture - Josie and The Pussycats (and DuJour?)
This movie, like Spiceworld: The Movie, is my favourite kind of comfort comedy. I love it and quote it to myself all the time. And this soundtrack is the kind of girly pop punk that ticks all of my boxes. I just read that Bif Naked sang some stuff on this and last night I saw her music video to promote Ready to Rumble. Coincidence!
Highlights: 3 Small Words, Pretend to Be Nice, Spin Around, Shapeshifter
9/10
Journey's Greatest Hits - Journey
A grand collection of Journey doing Journey things; rockin' and balladin' and touchin' and squeezin' and lovin'!
Highlights: Any Way You Want I, Be Good to Yourself, Ask the Lonely, Don't Stop Believin', Faithfully, Wheel in the Sky
9/10
joy - YUKI
I consider this album to be YUKI really finding her footing. But her voice had not quite caught up to what she was trying to do. And, again, live versions of these songs are even better. This album is just an absolute gem.
Highlights: WAGON, キスをしようよ, JOY, ハローグッバイ
8/10
Judgment Night: Music From the Motion Picture - Various Artists
From a terribly underwhelming movie came the most insane soundtrack the world would ever see; popular grunge and metal bands teaming up with rap and hip-hop stars. Revolutionary. And, amazingly, it all works so well. A hardcore good time.
Highlights: Just Another Victim - Helmet & House of Pain, Fallin' - Teenage Fanclub & De la Soul, Me Myself & My Microphone - Living Colur & Run DMC, Missing Link - Dinosaur Jr. & Del the Funky Homosapien
8.5/10
Juno: Music from the Motion Picture - Various Artists
I think I got this free with the DVD of the movie. And I am not sure if I have watched the movie since I got it on DVD. I think the only DVDs I watch are the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and Air Bud? Blu-ray or UHD all the way, baby! This is peak late-00s indie hipster folk and it is barely tolerable.
Highlights: All The Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople, Dearest - Buddy Holly, All I Want Is You - Barry Louis Polisar
5.5/10
Jupiter - Bump of Chicken
It is Bump of Chicken doing Bump of Chicken things. Nothing outstanding. All rather enjoyable in the background.
Highlights: 天体観測, ハルジオン, メロディーフラッグ, ダイヤモンド
7/10
Just Blaq - MBLAQ
This is purely the song Oh Yeah, to further my random K-Pop collection of miscellaneous songs. It is a fun upbeat track.
8/10
Just the Beginning Tour 2017 - Ayumi Hamasaki
This is the tour finale, I think? The tour was 3 parts and I went to the final of part II and then the opening night of part III. So while it is not a show I attended, it is great to have a document of that tour. Even if they were not shows with a live band and Ayu's voice on this is clearly tired. Still an absolutely killer setlist. And this arrangement of Ourselves needs to be preserved for eternity.
Highlights: Ourselves, FLOWER, Memorial address, SEVEN DAYS WAR
8/10
Justified - Justin Timberlake
When this came out, I had no interest in NSYNC or Justin Timberlake. In fact, I would say I actively disliked him. And his falsetto annoyed me. But Like I Love You broke me down with how danceable it is. And then he followed it up with more super dance fun. I definitely think this album is a mixed bag and half of Pharrell's stuff is tired and played out, but Timbaland is in classic Timbaland form, so it sounds like JT just guesting on some Missy tracks or something.
Highlights: Rock Your Body, Like I Love You, (Oh No) What You Got, Right For Me
7/10
"Albums" listened to so far: 908
FREE PALESTINE
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