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

2025 in 2025: Day 55

The Diary of Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys is a very good songwriter, a skill that is only matched by her ability to sing flat on almost everything. Honestly, her vocals always sound so raw - they could use a bit of reverb. And a lot of autotune. She sounds tired. Also, why is Kanye West always hailed as a producer on this album when he only worked on one song? And this album is too long. But still, great songwriter. 

Highlights: If I Ain't Got You, Heartburn, Dragon Days

7/10

Dig Your Own Hole - The Chemical Brothers

Groundbreaking. Maybe not for real electronic music fans, but this was the first album of its kind to really break mainstream music. And LOGMAN's interest. Seriously, these beats and grooves are just too funky.

Highlights: Block Rockin' Beats, Dig Your Own Hole, Elektrobank, Setting Sun, Get Up On It Like This

9/10

Dim The Lights - MONOEYES

LOGMAN said MONOEYES were good, but not great. He said bad things (jokingly) about Scott Murphy. The more LOGMAN listens to this album, the more he wants to change his mind because this album is absolutely flawless.

Highlights: Free Throw, Two Little Fishes, Borders & Walls, Get Up, 3 2 1 Go

9.5/10

Dirt - Alice In Chains

Teenage LOGMAN didn't really connect with this album at first; he was too grunge, maybe? Which makes no sense, because I always loved glam metal. Might be because I heard it after I heard Jar of Flies, which is so dark and mellow? However, once I got a bit older I was able to fully appreciate how totally badass this album is. It is dark and heavy. And always makes me want to scream along like Layne Stayley. The last 3 songs are especially great for jamming and swinging your hair around.

Highlights: Dem Bones, Rain When I Die, Angry Chair, Down in a Hole, Would?

8/10

The Dirt Soundtrack - Mötley Crüe

The Crüe teaming up with John 5 (this was before he joined full-time) and... Machine Gun Kelly. I'll almost let it pass because he was in the movie... but seriously. I'm trying hard to hold off on swearing in these music blogs, but fuck that guy. Remove his part and The Dirt would be a decent almost pop song! Credit to Bob Rock for making Vince Neil almost sound like he can sing. Except for on Like a Virgin, but the man is only capable of so much.

Highlights: The Dirt (Est. 1981), Ride with the Devil

6.5/10

Disco Christmas - Jay Manero and His Disco Band

I had 3 killer albums in a row, then the sad shell of what was the Crue and now this? I think I actually bought this because we needed Xmas music in my office and demanded we keep it disco. And it was hilariously over-priced. It is everything I wanted the Meco and James Brown Xmas albums to be.

Highlights: It's fucking Xmas music in cheesy disco form

6/10

Discography: The Complete Singles Collection - Pet Shop Boys

Is there another act that is more British than these dudes? These songs defined that 80s synth-pop sound for me. And I was totally obsessed with the video to Heart. Is it impossible to record a bad version of Always on My Mind?

Highlights: West End Girls, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, Always on My Mind, Heart

8/10

Discovery - Daft Punk

The guitar or whatever it is solo on Digital Love is amazing. This is one of those albums that has a few totally killer tracks and then the rest of the album is steady level of pretty great. This whole album is a fantastic disco vibe.

Highlights: One More Time, Digital Love, Harder Better Faster Stronger, Face to Face

8.5/10

Disintegration - The Cure

There was a time I would have told you this is my favourite album. That was also the time I listened to this multiple times a day. I will still rave about it in every possible way. And strangely, I probably did not think much of it at first? Pictures of You contains some of the greatest guitar and bass tone ever committed to tape. What really makes the whole thing stand out, to me, is the space within the songs; there is not a million things going on and not a big essay of lyrics in every song - even if they are 10 minutes long. The songs are actually repetitive musically, but somehow it doesn't get monotonous or boring at all. I mean, Disintegration is pretty much 3 chords over and over for 9 minutes, and it is one of the greatest songs The Cure ever did. Gawdam I still can not catch the ending the first time around!

Highlights: Plainsong, Pictures of You, Fascination Street, Prayers for Rain, Disintegration, Homesick, Untitled

9.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 427