2025 in 2025: Day 170

State of the World Address - Biohazard

The most melodic of hardcore albums. Down For Life immediately aged poorly, since they fired their guitarist after this album. Cypress Hill really were everywhere in 1994. And that was a good thing. Just like this album. Heavy, aggressive, a hell of a groove, and lyrically focused on lower-class urban life and fighting against the system. LOGMAN's album of choice while playing Gran Turismo.

Highlights: Down For Life, How It Is, Love Denied, What Makes Us Tick

9/10

Static & Silence - The Sundays

I thought for sure The Sundays were Australian, but I just read they were actually from the UK. Interesting. More interesting than this album.

Highlights: Summertime, She

6/10

Stay Hungry - Twisted Sister

In only further embarrassment, this is only We're Not Gonna Take It. I guess if you have to have only one Twisted Sister song, it has to be this one. 

10/10

Stay On These Roads - a-ha

This album was released in 2002, yet sounds exactly like it was released in 1987. Make of that what you will.

Highlights: Touchy, Stay on These Roads

6/10

Steelheart - Steelheart

Big late-80s glam rock with the biggest highest screams possible. My only gripe is they seemed to channel Hammer and made every song about two minutes longer than they needed to be, but otherwise this probably should have been pretty popular if it had been released a year or two earlier. 

Highlights: Gimme Gimme, Like Never Before, Rock'n Roll (I Just Wanna), Down 'n Dirty

7.5/10

Step Outside - Greyshack

Old school dirty hard rock all the way from India! Feels like Aussie Summer pub rock, to me. Again, take that how you will.

Highlights: Step Outside, New Day

6.5/10

The Stockholm Sessions - Ryan Adams

DRA going all acoustic - I am thinking this might be quite live? Very quiet and chill.

Highlights: I am falling asleep...

6/10

Stomp 442 - Anthrax

Well, this is surely waking me up! Not their best album... I assume, because it is the only one I have in full, but it does feature Dimebag on lead for a few songs.

Highlights: Nothing, Random Acts of Senseless Violence, King Size, Bare, American Pompeii

7/10

Stone Cold Rhymin' - Young MC

I do not have the full album and that is something that needs serious correcting. What I do have, however, are some stone cold classics. These are my jams, right here.

Highlights: Bust a Move, Principal's Office

9/10

Storm - Heather Nova

Ms. Nova going back to her roots and doing a full on indie acoustic folk album with minimalist production - but much less dark than Glow Stars. In fact, still very much love songs and stuff. But somewhat lacking in emotion, I find.

Highlights: River of Life, You Left Me a Song, Fool For You

6.5/10

Storm Front - Billy Joel

Gawddam We Didn't Start The Fire just has so much drive; musically it is so simple, but these dudes are such solid musicians that they just push the beat so much. Dude is still singing about the USSR like he has seen the light and converted to communism.

Highlights: I Go to Extremes, We Didn't Start the Fire, Storm Front, That's Not Her Style

7/10

The Story So Far - Rod Stewart

A career-spanning compilation and I wish I could say it was complete, but there are a few of his more notable songs missing from here. And there is some seriously awful stuff tacked on the end - I do not need him singing Waltzing fucking Matilda. But honestly, Rockin' Rod is someone I forget is actually good and then I listen to his singles and I am like 'Oh yeah! This song is cool. And this one, too!'.

Highlights: Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?, The Motown Song, Rhythm of My Heart, Downtown Train, Hot Legs, All For Love

7.5/10

The Stranger - Billy Joel

There is a really cool groove to this album. And the ballads are almost quite heartfelt. 

Highlights: The Stranger, Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Only the Good Die Young, Get It Right the First Time

7.5/10

A Stranger Is Born (Pre Strangers Almanac Demo) - Whiskeytown

Mostly badly recorded demos. Some live stuff as well - also badly recorded. And then one or two actual proper recordings that sound great. Though it might be because of having to listen an hour of badly recorded nonsense.

Highlights: The Rain Won't Help You When It's Over, Ten Seconds 'Til The End Of The World

5/10

Strangers Almanac - Whiskeytown

Many of the songs on the previous 'album' now actually finished and recorded properly. And it is very, very good in parts. I got confused for a minute, because some of these songs are also on my version of Faithless Street in slightly different recordings. And I only JUST read that I actually have some deluxe version of Faithless Street that features like twice the songs. And I have listened to that album many times more than this one.

Highlights: 16 Days, Waiting to Derail, Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight, Yesterday's News

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1625

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2025 in 2025: Day 164

Sinner - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

I am not sure if it is just the production, but this album rocks and Jett's voice goes hard! Somewhat more consistent than some of her 80s album and a bit more solidly punk. Also opening with some mocking of George W. Bush is a great way to set the tone.

Highlights: A.C.D.C., Riddles, Tube Talkin', Everyone Knows, Bad Time

7.5/10

Sinner - Drowning Pool

Thankfully this is only the song Bodies. It is a key musical ingredient in one of the greatest scenes in cinema history.

8/10

Siren - Heather Nova

Heather Nova hitting some serious pop hooks. beautiful soaring ballads and even some kinda sexy grooves. And my man David Ayers makes his guitar sound like various animals and contraptions to help take some of the songs to another level. This may well be her chilled-out pop masterpiece.

Highlights: Winterblue, London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do), Heart and Shoulder, Ruby Red

9/10

Six60 - Six60

I can kind of understand why these guys are so popular; some pretty cool guitar riffs, basic vocals anyone can sing, and all pretty harmless. And New Zealander's love to celebrate mediocrity. But, yeah, it is not the worst album a New Zealand group has released.

Highlights: Only to Be, Run for It, Take it from Here

6/10

sixxxxxx - Ayumi Hamasaki

Fun cheesy bops, somber ballads, Ayu thinking she is Linkin Park. This EP covers everything and does not waste time with any pretentious nonsense. And this was only 4 months after the glorious A ONE album. Legends will be told of how amazing she was before the fall...

Highlights: Step by Step, Sorrows, Summer Diary, Sky High

10/10

Skin of a Stone - Dead Flowers

Early 90s New Zealand grunge? Hard rock? Metal? It has to be one of the earliest rock songs featuring Maori vocals, right? I remember the time when Wildside was the record label for all the alt rock acts - pretty sure most New Zealand albums I bought were on that label.

Highlights: Plastic, Underground, Someday, Mihi

7/10

Skull & Bones - Cypress Hill

I really need to track down Sen Dog's nu-metal band, because enlisting the drummer from Rage Against the Machine to help you get heavy is always a winner. The first disc is standard Cypress Hill; do not smoke all their weed, they are bad dudes, etc. When I listen to Cypress Hill, I know what I am signing up for. Except for this 'Bones' disc.

Highlights: Valley of Chrome, Can't Get the Best of Me, Certified Bomb, Dust

7/10

Sky is the Limit - Drunken Tiger

It is funny how much these dudes like to shout out American rappers and their songs like they know who they are, but I guess they are trying to help make sure Korean kids know that Wu-Tang Clan are not something to fuck with?

Highlights: Jam Skhool (U Need To Learn Tho), 8:45 Heaven, 행복의 조건 (희망승일), 내가 싫다

7/10

The Skylarks - The Skylarks

Ryan Adams doing early bad grunge or something. Sounds like it was recorded on a tape recorder in the middle of a practice space. Covering Madonna shows he was always abusive to women!

5/10

Slap-Happy - L7

L7 move to a more "modern" sound, so now as they approach the millenium they sound like they are in 1993? 

Highlights: Livin' Large, Stick to the Plan, Mantra Down

6.5/10

The Slaughterhouse - Prince

Prince releasing self-produced funky tunes on the internet for his fans ONLY was peak internet. And then fans spreading it online for free is what the internet was for...

Highlights: Northside, Peace, Props 'N' Pounds, Y Should Eye Do That When Eye Can Do This?

7/10

Slave to the Grind - Skid Row

This album came out at exactly the wrong time. It should have been massive. It certainly was popular with me and my friends in 1995 when we realised just how hard it rocked. Still kind of hair metal (which is a good thing) but with some serious edge. Sebastian Bach well have had the best voice in all of the genre.

Highlights: Wasted Time, In a Darkened Room, Monkey Business, Riot Act

9/10

Sleeping With Ghosts - Placebo

This album is actually more enjoyable than I expected. I had a fairly negative idea of this band, because I am not a fan of the singer's voice, but there are some genuinely great songs in here. Much more pop and a little grand.

Highlights: The Bitter End, This Picture, Sleeping With Ghosts, Bulletproof Cupid

6.5/10

Sleepless in Brooklyn - [Alexandros]

Fairly standard Japanese fake indie pop. Like, it is good, but there is very little outstanding. The vocalist totally reminds me of the dude from Grinspoon, sometimes. The music does not at all!

Highlights: 明日、また, LAST MINUTE, Mosquito Bite

6.5/10

Slef Portait - The Shit

This is quite the concept album; it tells the story of a disturbed individual that is plotting to kill someone, and then does, attempts to kill themselves also, and then ends up in prison. It is all a bit cryptic, but the artistic storytelling is very moving. Boyz II Men can sing awesome as hell.

Highlights: I'm Going to Kill You, You're Dead, Oops You're Dead, I'm Going to Kill Myself in the Face, I Can't Make Records Anymore Cause I'm In Prison

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1535

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2025 in 2025: Day 105

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

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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 100

If I Can Dream EP - Elvis Presley

This is take 1. I had read it was pretty awesome, and they were right. Apart from some messing up by the guitarist, Elvis' vocal delivery is actually better in some parts. Awesome song. And if I had waited, I would have had this with my 50th Anniversary collection of the '68 Comeback Special. One day I might import that last CD in to my library...

10/10

If I Die Tomorrow - Mötley Crüe

If I remember correctly, this was the first reunion single. It is nowhere near as good as anything on Saints of Los Angeles.

6/10

If Not Now, Then When... ? - The Edge of Victory

Oh, hey, look - it is me! Yes, I have my music in my iTunes library. Because why would I make music that I do not want to listen to? I would, however, like to have better vocals on this darn thing. And less loser vibes. But I dig my bass work on this whole thing and my guitar tone was perfection.

Highlights: To, Not, Be, Time, Then

7.5/10

III - Ryan Adams

Technically, this is Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, but it was only ever credited to DRA. Because of ego, probably? Anyways, this is pretty much just 90s indie college rock stylings. And I quite enjoy it. Wasteland may well be his best non-alt country songs ever. 

Highlights: Wasteland, Stop Playing With My Heart, Users

7/10

III: Temples of Boom - Cypress Hill

Such a total change of pace from their first two albums; much more chilled, musically, but lyrically they are a lot angrier. Especially when dissing Ice Cube. Dude got murderised. 

Highlights: Let It Rain, Make a Move, Throw Your Set in the Air, Everybody Must Get Stoned

7/10

Ill Communication - Beastie Boys

Killer rap songs, funky samples, groovy instrumentals, hardcore punk nonsense. This album has it all. Even awesome cameos and a little bit of the Biz.

Highlights: Sure Shot, Root Down, Sabotage, Get It Together, The Scoop

8.5/10

Ill Communication (2009 Remastered Edition) - Beastie Boys

And, of course, this is the bonus disc. The remixes are cool and work because the lyrics are so good you can really focus on them, and the hardcore stuff is just the business. This why these guys were the best.

Highlights: Root Down [Free Zone Mix], Resolution Time, Heart Attack Man [Live], Mullet Head

7/10

Imagine - John Lennon

Probably Lennon's most radio-friendly solo release. And forcing that is why it is not as great as his other solo albums. Songs about peace and love and how much Paul McCartney can get these hands or something. Harrison's guitar playing is very subtle.

Highlights: Oh Yoko!, Imagine, Crippled Inside, Give Me Some Truth

7.5/10

" Albums" listened to so far: 838

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2025 in 2025: Day 49

Cyberpunk - Billy Idol

Vince Neil stole Steve Stevens, so Billy Idol's only answer was to make a weird concept album and fuse his brand of rock with 90s electronica? The dude even decides to do some rapping on here. I'd make fun, but all these fake commercials and news bits feel kind of like he was inspired RoboCop. And Shock to the System is a genuinely brilliant song. There are a couple of other good songs, but mostly this is all very dated and long and kind of silly.

Highlights: Shock to the System, Power Junkie

5/10

Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill

This album doesn't have the glorious production or menacing darkness of Black Sunday. But what it does have is funky grooves and super cool rhymes. Sometimes when a group doesn't have lots of money to hide behind, they are forced to be very good - and Cypress Hill were very good. Probably still are?

Highlights: How I Could Just Kill a Man, Light Another, Real Estate, Stoned is the Way of the Walk, The Funky Cypress Hill Shit

7/10

D.I.S.C.O. - Ottawan

Sadly, this is simply the single song from the French duo. It is a testament to the power and glory of disco music. That intro alone is life.

10/10

Da Real World - Missy Elliott

So we finally made it to the D albums! I loves me some Missy Elliott, but her first couple of albums just kind of meander a little. How did I forget Slim Shady is on here? Man, he was so fun back in the day. A lot of guest appearances on this album. And some preaching from Missy? That's not a fun way to end an album...

Highlights: Busa Rhyme

5/10

Dad Man Cat - Corduroy

One of the grooviest albums of all time. Also coolest song titles of all time, like How to Steal the World, The Girl Who Was Death and Skirt Alert. These cats were the coolest. I still need to split the live tracks from each album and put them on their own - they all come from an actual live album that was released a million years ago, but I do not have.

Highlights: How to Steal the World, Frug in G Major, Pony Tail, Skirt Alert, Money Is

9/10

Daft Punk is Playing at My House [Single] - LCD Soundsystem

It is not that song, because I have that on the self-titled LCD Soundsystem album. This is purely Jump Into the Fire (Radio One Live Sessions). This is so much better than that terrible version I heard a couple of days ago on The Craft soundtrack.

8/10

Dakota [Single] - Stereophonics

Great song, this one. The remix is pretty naff, though. And the other demo song on here is fine.

Highlights: Dakota

6/10

Dance Your Asteroids Off to the Complete Star Wars Collection - Meco

Another Meco compilation, but this time it is purely Star Wars themes. Including the Ewok celebrations from Return of the Jedi. Some of these are edited versions and a whole lot of fake movie dialogue has been edited in. The "Yoda" is hilarious; sounds more like Kurgen from Highlander! Bah gawd Meco has even re-recorded the full Lapti Nek in the corniest way. "C3PO" is rapping in Ewok language about Star Wars characters and this might be the one moment saving the album from being deleted. Jar Jar Binks rapping about himself may be even funnier!

Highlights: Darth Vader's Theme/Yoda's Theme, The Battle in the Snow, Ewok Celebration

7/10

Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie

This is purely the title track, because it is an 80s dance classic and I will love it forever. The guitar solo is way cooler than it had any right to be.

10/10

Dancing With Myself (From the Motion Picture Mean Girls) [Single] - The Donnas

An awesome cover from an awesome movie. I'm not sure if I love this more than the original, but maybe I do, because The Donnas had such great attitude. I started the day with Billy Idol being weird and ending the day with a cover of one of his best songs. Full circle!

10/10

Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys (Deluxe Version) - My Chemical Romance

These dudes owe their producers at least 80% of everything they ever earned, because they managed to make Gerard Way sound like a great screamo-style singer, when he was in fact just an average bad singer. Also, they can only make 'concept albums'. All that said, this album has some outstanding pop-punk moments. Bulletproof Heart is the most Green Day song this side of Green Day - right down to the title! In fact, I would argue that almost every song on this album sounds like someone else. And of course they have the cliched girl talking in Japanese moment. Anyways, this album is great and there is genuinely not a bad song on it. 

Highlights: Bulletproof Heart, Sing, The Only Hope For Me Is You, Save Yourself I'll Hold Them Back, The Kids From Yesterday

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 384

2025 in 2025: Day 35

Charisma.BEST - Charisma.com

Gawddam I have a lot to say about this album, but I'm just too busy right now. Sure, it's a compilation that is almost rendered obsolete by my Charisma.com collection, but I've had to keep it because of a few songs that are from EPs and I am still missing the album not not me, which contains some of their best songs - most particularly #hashdark. Which is just a perfect song. I could listen to that all day. And this album. In fact, there are likely days when I have.

Highlights: もや燃やして, #hashdark, やれよ。, メキメキmore, りぼん

8/10

Charmbracelet - Mariah Carey

Mariah moving further in to... not different territory? Although, this album does contain her Eminem diss track - did she win that war? Also, an appearance from Mack 10? I take it back; this album is actually more in line with the style from Mariah Carey that I appreciate - good grooves, good singing, cool rappers. It is just a bit inconsistent, overall. But that is kind of how I view most Mariah albums, I guess.

Highlights: You Got Me, Clown, You Had Your Chance, Irresistible (West Side Connection), Subtle Invitation

6/10

Charmbracelet [Bonus Disc] - Mariah Carey

This is some re-release tour edition or something. Likely from Japan? It is just four bonus songs. Busta Rhymes is not much of a singer. 

Highlights: There Goes My Heart

6/10

Check Your Head - Beastie Boys

I hate to admit this, but for many a listen to this album I could not work out how half the song titles aligned with the songs, because they mention so many of the different song titles in other songs. And there are all these little interludes and what not. Look, I was young and stupid, okay? The main point is I was listening to this album and it is awesome and Beastie Boys really were the best. MCA on Professor Booty is just 5-star delivery and attitude.

Highlights: Pass The Mic, So What'cha Want, Stand Together, In 3's

8/10

Check Your Head [Bonus Disc] Beastie Boys

This is from the 2009 reissue. A whole lot of remixes - including So What'Cha Want with Cypress Hill, so that makes me happy. Then there is also the full album commentary from the Beastie Boys themselves. Like watching a movie with commentary, except you can't watch anything. It is very interesting for a musician and Beastie Boys fan.

Highlights: The Skills to Pay the Bills, Stand Together (Live), Finger Lickin' Good (Government Cheese Remix)

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 287

2025 in 2025: Day 31

Brothers Gonna Work it Out - The Chemical Brothers

Massive DJ mix from The Chemical Brothers. It's mostly pretty funky. Mostly. I just did a google on this and my tracklisting does not match wiki. Nor do the times. Weird, because mine is a direct rip of the CD. And it is impossible to properly rate or anything, because it's just one massive DJ mix, really.

7/10

Bryan Adams - Bryan Adams

When I was about 13 or 14, I bought Gold Signature Tour Editions of Bryan Adams' albums, from You Want It, You Got It to Waking Up the Neighbours. I foolishly passed on this album and Live! Live! Live! and have never been able to find said versions of them again, so almost 20 years later I had to settle for just a normal edition of this album. As an album, it is quite different to everything he released after; more light-hearted and poppy. And no Keith Scott.

Highlights: Hidin' From Love, Win Some Lose Some, Remember

6.5/10

Buddah Mix - Cypress Hill

This was a bonus disc that came with Temple of Boom; it's just one track - a 20 minute DJ mix of songs from the first two Cypress Hill albums. They're all great songs, so there are worse ways to spend 20 minutes. Obviously a morning for DJ mixes!

7/10

The Buddha of Suburbia - David Bowie

I can appreciate this album for being both adventurous and having some wonderful songs buried within the weirdness. The instrumentals are really more like soundscapes or interludes; they certainly aren't musical or something you would put on to jam to. But the songs are generally pretty darn great and fit somewhat with some of the songs from Black Tie White Noise, which was only released a few months beforehand.

Highlights: Buddha of Suburbia, Strangers When We Meet, Untitled No. 1

6/10

Buhloone Mindstate - De La Soul

De La Soul with James Brown's old horns section and sampling some Run-DMC? And Michael Jackson? And an appearance from a legit Japanese hip-hop trio? As you might imagine, all this adds up to make a genuinely fantastic groove.

Highlights: En Focus, Long Island Wildin', Area, Breakadawn

7/10

Burlesque: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Christina Aguilera and Cher

This journey through Christina's catalogue has forced me to accept that I just don't like her doing big band songs. In fact, I may have to face the reality that... I actually... don't really like much of what she has put out in general. She has been a totally mixed bag since Stripped. Her vocals sound super processed on this album, and I can not imagine why. I really liked this movie, but there are two standout songs on this album - and only one is by Aguilera.

Highlights: Express - Christina Aguilera, You Haven't Seen the Last of Me - Cher

6/10

Burn in the Night [Single] - Ryan Adams

Another one of his singles from 2015. These are actually good; very 90s garage rock.

Highlights: Burn in the Night, Cop City

6/10

Bury the Hatchet - The Cranberries

Hmmm... I find this woman to be one of the absolute worst singers I have ever heard in my life. And their guitarist produces some of the worst guitar solos I have ever heard in my life. At some point, I actually found I had about four of their albums in my iTunes library. And they were all deluxe editions. Thankfully, I saw sense and deleted all of them bar this; I kept it because Promises is a very good song. Starting this album, I am not sure that song is worth 70 minutes of The Cranberries. Halfway through, I was ready to eat my words, because things didn't start off too badly - and there was even another song I thought was very good! But then it slowly trailed off and got to Copycat, which is not only utterly terrible, but hilariously ironic in that the lyrics are complaining about bands copying other bands - yet there is ZERO originality found in The Cranberries. Heck, most of their songs they are trying desperately to sound like The Cure. At least a really terrible version. The singer seemed to really hate women; most of her songs are complaining about bad Mothers and the like.  If I could skip the rest of this dreck and delete now, I wouldn't even hesitate. 

Highlights: Promises, Shattered

3.5/10

Business as Usual - Men at Work

This is purely Who Can It Be Now? and I think I needed some fun 80s to try and recover from that. I could go for more Men at Work - I don't have this whole album, but an entire album from The Cranberries? Make it make sense...

7/10

Butterfly - Mariah Carey

I remember all the hullabaloo around this album when it was released; Carey had been strictly R&B/pop and this album was supposed to be more of her getting a sexier image and trying to get in the hip-hop scene or something. Sure, that influence is definitely there on a few songs like Honey and Breakdown, which hilariously samples Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, but it is still mostly the middle of the road Mariah Carey of old with the songs about love and singing insanely high. Great background music.

Highlights: Butterfly, The Roof

6/10

BYE-BYE [Single] - Ayumi Hamasaki

I think this was Ayu's most recent single? It's... okay? My wife certainly wishes Ayu would say "Bye-bye" for a while...

7/10

Bye-Bye Show [Single] - BiSH

This was the culmination of a year-long BiSH is OVER campaign, where they released a single (2 songs) each month and would then disband. Of course, WACK realised the money they were making from this so milked it for an extra month... and then decided they would keep touring until their final concert in June - six months later. And of course, this would not be the final single...  Which is a shame, because ending things with a song called SPARK when their first song was called スパーク (Spark) seemed like a great full circle kind of idea. And also it is an awesome song.

8/10

The Byte is in My Blood - Robot Goes Here

This is some random punk dude that is also a scientist and makes solo electronic punk music. It's kind of fun; I'd almost be interested to hear how they could have ended up if not completely programmed, but I still admire his execution. This was one of those wonderful $1 CDs I bought back in the day. I miss getting fun surprises like this. Bahaha I forgot about his full electronic version of Back in Black - complete with computer generated vocals. I actually recall on his MySpace he had an EP that was just him covering other heavy metal classics, like Iron Maiden's The Trooper. Hilarious stuff.

Highlights: Back in Black

5/10

Finally finished with B albums!

"Albums" listened to so far: 262

2025 in 2025: Day 23

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey Soundtrack - Various Artists

This was probably my favourite movie when I was 15. I even dressed a bit like Bill S. Preston, Esq. The soundtrack is very not 1995; it's mostly hair metal and awesome shredding guitars from 1991, because that was still kind of cool in 1991. I watched this movie so much I could probably tell where each song appears - except for the one song that is not in the movie. It always cracked me up that Drinking Again by Neverland was on the soundtrack, but For the Love of by Neverland - which does actually appear in the movie - did NOT make the soundtrack. Did the person compiling this just get confused on which Neverland song was supposed to be used? Anyways, the rest of the soundtrack features Winger delivering possibly their greatest song, Faith No More pre-Angel Dust, Steve Vai shredding up a storm, and Kiss delivering possibly the greatest song ever. And the question still needs to be asked: how on Earth did Primus qualify for a local battle of the bands in San Dimas? This is a good soundtrack. It makes me want to watch Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey again. Maybe even the full trilogy!

Highlights: God Gave Rock & Roll To You - Kiss, Drinking Again - Neverland, Battle Stations - Winger

8/10

Binaural - Pearl Jam

This was the peak and end of my love for Pearl Jam - it completely dropped off a cliff after this album. Not because I hate this album or anything, but because of everything they did after. In fact, LOGMAN 2000 loved this album! Eddie Vedder's voice on this album is kind of annoying. And Mike McCready seems to have been listening to a lot of Radiohead or something. Jeebus, Vedder's mumbling is killing this album. Matt Cameron's drumming is solid, though. I remember seeing a live clip of them performing Insignificance and he was just murdering his drumkit. Okay, I'm bored. LOGMAN 2000 was stupid.

Highlights: God's Dice, Evacuation, Light Years, Insignificance

6/10

Bionic - Christina Aguilera

Well, this is a change of pace. From a boring rock album to a confused pop album. This was Christina's answer to Lady Gaga and what was happening in pop at the time. There are some good songs and it all opens strong, just extra... raunchy? Well, I think that's what she was attempting; Not Myself Tonight works, but Woohoo gets a little gross (though it is still a very enjoyable track). Elastic Love is probably Christina's worst song ever. Maybe even in my top 10 of absolute worst songs by anyone. The middle of this album seems to veer heavily into ballad territory. Then it's finally back to girl power pop, except it's kind of all over the place, and Monday Morning sounds like some indie band I can't put my finger on. Holy smokes, Bobblehead is trying to give Elastic Love a run for it's money. This is the kind of garbage I would expect from someone like Fergie and would be super popular on tik-tok. This album could have used a lot more Linda Perry (her only contribution is one of the best songs on the whole album) and it is definitely too long - but that's probably my fault for getting the deluxe edition. My bad.

Highlights: Bionic, Not Myself Tonight, Lift Me Up

6/10

The Black Album - Jay-Z

Jay-Z at his peak, IMO. Just Blaze and Kanye sampling soul classics, Timbaland with a bigphat monster bounce, Rick Rubin dropping some old school beat - all while Jay raps over top about his life, how great he is and how this is the end. I think we can all agree that Encore is good, but the mashup version with Linkin Park is way better. The songs produced by The Neptunes and Eminem are clearly the weakest, so definitely not a perfect album, but the rest of the songs are so strong it doesn't really matter. I forgot about the Run-DMC sample in Justify My Thug. And the Michael Schumacher reference. Jay-Z the F1 fan, huh? Actually, I just straight-up forgot how darn great his lyrics on this whole track are. Awesome album and perfect way for Jay-Z to retire and say goodbye to being a rapper. Oh, his "retirement" lasted all of two years? Well, at least that is a longer retirement than your average pro-wrestler's...

Highlights: December 4th, What More Can I Say, Dirt Off Your Shoulder, 99 Problems, Public Service Announcement, My 1st Song

8.5/10

The Black Album - Prince

By Prime, this album is so funky. Just straight up FUNK. I'm hoping if we one day get a Lovesexy box set they will include this as well. Or just re-release it properly. Until then, I will sit here and get my funk on.

Highlights: All 8 songs are as funky as one another

8/10

The Black and White Album - The Hives

Yeeeeaaaah! These guys know how to open an album. This isn't quite the usual raw punk rock'n roll that The Hives deliver - instead a little more modern production thrown in. It also feels longer than they would usually do, but that might be just me? It is still The Hives in spirit, though. It's like having a beat up old noisy car, but throwing a new coat of paint on it. And then deciding that paint really doesn't work and looks silly.

Highlights: Try It Again, Tick Tick Boom, Hey Little World, Bigger Hole to Fill

6.5/10

Black Clouds - Ryan Adams

Black Clouds itself is such an Oasis ripoff, I can kind of see why he excluded it from any album. But then, when he eventually released Love Is Hell, it still included a ripoff of Purple Rain. So maybe he just wanted to limit the number of ripoffs per album? I didn't even enjoy listening to this when I did my Ryan Adams marathon - not exactly lighting my world on fire when I'm tired and find this dude fairly insufferable. 

Highlights: It finished

4/10

Black Market Music - Placebo

This is purely Without You I'm Nothing with David Bowie. I'm not entirely sure how I ended up with this, but I think I might prefer the original version in some ways. Either way, it's a very dark and somber song. Just what I needed after a miserable Ryan Adams "album"...

8/10

Black Sheep [Single] - Gin Wigmore

This... wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Sure, I still think she is nothing more than an Amy Winehouse imitator, but it is an enjoyable and catchy song. Probably would have sounded even better with Amy Winehouse singing!

7/10

Black Sunday - Cypress Hill

Hot Damn! This is one of those albums that just never gets old. Cypress Hill were one of those earliest hip-hop acts that crossed over to the rock/alternative crowd as well as the hip-hop heads. This album in particular; some of these beats are just straight up hard, and B-Real's voice is so unique, it just gave them a character that connected with the skate kids as well. That harmonica in Ain't Goin' Out Like That is awesome. I do not partake in the marijuana, but even I will tell you that these are the coolest songs about smoking weed you will ever find. 

Highlights: Insane in the Brain, Lick a Shot, Hits from the Bong, Break 'Em Off Some

8/10

Black Tie White Noise - David Bowie

We staying in 1993 for this one! I think this may actually be the first time I have listened to this album in full? It's such a mix of soul and 90s pop. Hard to explain. Maybe I'm just tired.

Highlights: Black Tie White Noise, I Feel Free, I Know It's Gonna Happen One Day

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 194