2025 in 2025: Day 102

Invincible - Michael Jackson

The production on this album is super badass and it is pretty much MJ at his most R&B. It was always going to be in the shadow of all his previous works, unless he had released another masterpiece. Which he didn't? Some great songs, though, which showed he still had it.

Highlights: Hearbreaker, Break of Dawn, 2000 Watts, Threatened, That scream of "Slash!" right before the guitar solo in Privacy

7.5/10

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

This is purely the b-side I Don't Want to Know - it is a Fleetwood Mac cover. I have Iris on Dizzy Up the Girl and have zero interest in ever listening to the edited single version.

8/10

Issues - KoЯn

Bagpipes. Weird interludes. Rattling bass. Bad singing and stupid lyrics. It is a classic KoЯn album! The last half of this is all jangly guitars in the verses.

Highlights: Falling Away From Me, Beg For Me, Somebody Someone, Let's Get This Party Started

5.5/10

It's Better to Travel - Swing Out Sister

This is purely that 80s smash hit Breakout. Not to be confused with the Frehley's Comet rocker. No Eric Carr on drums, here!

8/10

It's My Sin - Jan Hellriegel

90s West-Auckland rock. Some seriously giant reverb all over this. That chorus in The Way I Feel is tops.

Highlights: The Way I Feel, No Idea, It's My Sin

6/10

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

This is just the song. And what a song!

9/10

IT'z ICY - ITZY

ICY is the song of the Summer. Not just 2019 - I am talking EVERY Summer. It is fun having the remix of DALLA DALLA since that is the only ITZY single I do not have. Which is silly, because that is a great song.

Highlights: ICY, DALLA DALLA (DallasK Remix), WANT IT? (Imad Royal Remix)

7.5/10

IT'z ME - ITZY

The video for Wannabe is dope. But we are not here to talk about music videos. What am I? MTV?

Highlights: Wannabe, Nobody Like You, That's a No No, 24Hrs

7.5/10

iTunes Festival: London 2013 - Justin Timberlake

I think this was one of those free Xmas gifts from Apple or something. It is actually pretty decent - the band are tight and funky. The recording sounds like it was sourced from a video.

Highlights: Sexyback, Take Back the Night

7/10

IV - Ryan Adams

This is the follow up to III, which I am sure is quite logical. It is a bit more rocking. Kind of like the Rock N Roll album, but less messy and with better singing? That bridge in Icebreaker is perfection. I would rate the song Star Wars higher if it was not about Star Wars and how much he loves it. I knew there was a reason I think he is a clown!

Highlights: No, Numbers, Icebreaker, P.S., Kill the Lights

7/10

IV - Cypress Hill

Much like III, the music here is quite sparse and less powerful, while the lyrics and vocals are VERY angry. I wonder how much of it comes down to the mix or mastering. Sen Dog gets his nu-metal on with Lightning Strikes and it makes me want to track down his short-lived nu-metal band, because they were actually pretty decent. 

Highlights: Tequila Sunrise, Checkmate, Nothin' to Lose, Lightning Strikes

7/10

Ixnay on the Hombre - The Offspring

The first major label release and it is still pretty rad. Certainly a lot better than anything they put out afterwards! Pretty funny going from a group that promotes the use of marijuana, to a group that sings about drugs being bad. 

Highlights: Leave It Behind, Gone Away, Amazed, Change the World

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 876

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2025 in 2025: Day 29

Brainwashed - George Harrison

The last album recorded and by George Harrison and released a year after his death. It isn't his most exciting work, but I mean at this stage he was an old man and dying of cancer, so it's more of a chill musing on religion and just being an old man in a dumb world. And when I simplify it to that, I find that whole thing a bit relateable! George Harrison was cool.

Highlights: P2 Vatican Blues (Last Saturday Night), Looking for My Life, Brainwashed

7/10

Brand New By Tomorrow - Money Mark

Yes, that Money Mark! This is all very laid back keyboard-driven almost soul/R'n'B groovy stuff. Musically, very reminiscent of the instrumental jams Beastie Boys were known for. Which kind of makes sense, really. It's all very harmless. The song title Eyes That Ring made me think of Eyes Like Twins by Wilson Phillips, and I'm questioning why I don't have Wilson Phillips in my library. Stupid me having all the great stuff like that only on vinyl.

Highlights: Pick Up the Pieces, Black Butterfly

6/10

Brand-New Idol Shit - BiSH

BiSH's debut album is actually the last one I got; I'm not sure if it was the songs I had heard or simply the very different lineup, but I was not initially interested in this album - and this is after I became a raging fan of this wonderful group. I was missing out, because there are some insanely ridiculous tracks on here. There are a few that were re-recorded later with the next lineup (and then again with the final line-up for their final release - nice and pointless), and I legit have no idea what in the blue hell is going on with カラダ・イデオロギー. Are they imitating chickens or Muppets or Muppet chickens? Otherwise, this is a highly enjoyable album that will be rendered obsolete once I finally upload their pizza box set to my iTunes library...

Highlights: DA DANCE!!, Lonely girl, Story Brighter

7/10

Brass Knuckles - Nelly

Listening to Nelly make MySpace references is about as out of touch as I could possibly be. This is all pretty standard Nelly stuff; which LOGMAN generally enjoys. And we get a lot of cameos on this album; from LL Cool J to Snoop and Nate Dogg to Chuck D to... R Kelly. Ugh. That... does not surprise me. Anyways, this album is actually much better than I recall. It's no Nellyville, but it is groovy.

Highlights: U Ain't Him, Hold Up, L.A., Who Fuck Wit Me

6/10

Break My Stride - Unique II

I loved this song back in '98. Which is only two years after it was released - so I probably felt pretty current! This single is just 3 different version and the all sound similar, just one is shorter than the others.

6/10

Break Out - The Pointer Sisters

How do I only have two songs? I certainly know of a few more that should be here, but oh well.

Highlights: Jump, I'm So Excited

8/10

THE BREAKDOWN [Single] - Prince

Had I known this song would be released on an upcoming album, I likely wouldn't have purchased it, but it never hurts to have more Prince in your music collection.

7/10

Breakfast at Sweethearts - Cold Chisel

Conversations almost sounds like a demo, the way Jimmy's voice is so darn rough and raw. A lot of harmonica on this album. This must be Chisel's least commercial album? It's fine and all, but it does just kind of meander about and doesn't really go anywhere. A lot of songs about Sydney's nightlife. And Jimmy sure sounds like he's been up all night.

Highlights: Dresden, Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)

6/10

The Breakfast Club (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Various Artists

Interestingly, I only have two songs from this soundtrack. You would think I would have the whole thing. But at least it is the two most important songs from the soundtrack.

Highlights: Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds, Fire in the Twilight - Wang Chung

9/10

Breakout - Miley Cyrus

Time for some early Miley pop fun. And, funnily enough, this is the second or third album from 2008 today. This is all upbeat pop/rock and it is mostly great fun.

Highlights: Breakout, 7 Things, The Driveway, Full Circle, These Four Walls

6.5/10

Brick by Brick - Iggy Pop

Naturally, this is only the song Candy. Iggy is so terrible but Kate Pierson is so awesome it balances out and makes for a fantastic song.

8/10

Bricks Are Heavy - L7

It took me listening to the whole album to finally realise where I know Shitlist from - it's in Natural Born Killers. Very fitting. This album is like most L7 albums; heavy and dirty and big dumb fun. 

Highlights: Pretend We're Dead, Everglade, Shitlist, This Ain't Pleasure

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 242