2025 in 2025: Day 194

After a travel through the 1980s and 1990s, let us check out the 2000s...

2000 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Performing a tribute to Mother Love Bone in Las Vegas just seems like an odd choice. Christmas for me was making some money selling this record!

Highlights: Crown of Thorns [Mother Love Bone; Live in Las Vegas 22-08-00]

6/10

2001 - Dr. Dre

Spoiler: every song where Nate Dogg hits the hook is an absolute bomb of a track. Like, you could have the rudest and most basic verses, but if you roll out Nate Dogg to sing some soulful chorus, LOGMAN is just going feel that. Also, Eminem was so much fun back then.

Highlights: Forgot About Dre (featuring Eminem), What's the Difference (featuring Eminem and Xzibit), The Next Episode (featuring Snoop Dogg), Still D.R.E. (featuring Snoop Dogg)

7/10

2001 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

They almost had something to say this Xmas; Vedder actually sounds like he is putting a bit of effort into his vocals for once, and at least has the decency to get a better singer to sing stuff he can not.

Highlights: Indifference [Live @ Bridge School 21-10-01 w/Ben Harper], Gimme Some Truth [Live @ Groundwork Benefit, Seattle 2-10-01]

6/10

2002 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

This shit is getting so lazy - it is just live recordings every year. And considering they release all their live shows for purchase, a fan club member is doubling up on something they possibly already own. At least they played a fun Xmas song for once?

Highlights: 2002 was a good year, made better by the fact I was no longer receiving the Pearl Jam fan club singles

5/10

2003 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Again, using a different singer increases LOGMAN's interest. Temple of the Dog were always the better band!

Highlights: Reach Down [Live @ Santa Barbara Bowl 28/10/03 w/Chris Cornell]

6/10

2004 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

I feel like Eddie Vedder did not need to give comparable proof he is not as good a singer as Michael Jackson, but here we are.

Highlights: I spent Xmas 2004 watching the full The Lord of the Rings. Extended editions. Because LOGMAN does everything right, duh!

4/10

2005 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

If these 'albums' had appeared earlier in my marathon, I would have quit and thrown my phone in the river for the turtles to use to order pizza. I do not need to hear Eddie Vedder mumble his way through another Elvis song for the rest of my life.

Highlights: Elvis could sing and had a strong voice

3/10

2006 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

These guys sure put in more effort when it involves a band they genuinely like. Bono is just a pretentious twat.

Highlights: Love Reign O'er Me

6/10

2007 Christmas Single - Pearl Jam

Oh hey - they actually recorded Xmas songs! I am grateful this is the last one I have, but I must question why I had anything past 2001 in the first place - I stopped listening to this band by 2002. Just a sick compulsion to collect. I need to take some serious reflection here...

Highlights: Pearl Jam clearly want their fans to be miserable at Xmas

5/10

2009, Year of Us - SHINee

Well, after all that... that... I get hit with the silliest K-Pop song this side of Waikato River. Which is about as far from Seoul as you could imagine, but the sentiment remains... stupid? At least this song grooves.

8/10

3121 - Prince

The title refers to the number of times Prince mentions anything sexual. After the first 3 songs, I guess he lost count?

Highlights: Get on the Boat, Lolita, 3121, Love

7.5/10

7800° Fahrenheit - Bon Jovi

Standard hair metal mid-80s Bon Jovi. It rocks, but not in the most outstanding way that the next couple of albums would. At least JBJ could sing back then.

Highlights: Tokyo Road, King of the Mountain, The Price of Love, In & Out of Love

6.5/10

アーユーレディー - 緑黄色社会

Am I ready? To leave the English language behind for the rest of the marathon?? This song sums up my disappointment with 緑黄色社会; the verses are great and feel like they are building to something, but then the chorus is... something else.

6/10

アイ アイ シンドローム - Charisma.com

Big head-knocking beats, massive synths, solid rapping and dreamy vocals. These ladies really could do no wrong. Except for disbanding. That was wrong.

Highlights: AUTOMADE, NOW, OLHERO, HATE

8/10

ありふれた人生 - 加藤樹里果

I mentioned this girl before - this is the solo album I was telling you about. It is totally fine - believe me when I say I have heard MUCH worse in the last couple of days alone.

Highlights: Single Room, 感謝して生きよう。,ありふれた人生

6.5/10

アルトコロニーの定理 - RADWIMPS

Oh yes, plenty of RADWIMPS incoming! And this is where business really picks up; just the most awesome musical riffs and fantastic hooks and emotion building kind of stuff. I think this is the first album I am going to listen to once I finish things here...

Highlights: おしゃかしゃま, One Man Live, 37458, 七ノ歌

8.5/10

うれしくって抱きあうよ - YUKI

IMO this is the first album where YUKIちゃん actually sings like she can. It is the usual format, but just with so much... soul?

Highlights: プレゼント, 汽車に乗って, 同じ手, うれしくって抱きあうよ, just life! all right!

8/10

カーマイン - ELLEGARDEN

Oh what was that? A new ELLEGARDEN single? Yeah, I cheated a little to include this; they released it after I started the marathon, but there was no way I could NOT listen to a new ELLEGARDEN song. Even one that does not sound like ELLEGARDEN...

8/10

BAH GAWD this day turned around fast!

'Albums' listened to so far: 1974

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 171

Strawberry Margarita [Single] - ELLEGARDEN

Bah gawd how to start a day; when this single hit, my friend and I immediately messaged each other to say "THEY ARE BACK!" and it was fucking glorious. 

10/10

Streetcore - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

One thing you have to give to Joe Strummer is that he did not shy away from attempting all sorts of musical styles; The Clash were a veritable mish-mash of punk, ska, reggae, and all sorts of pop silliness at the end. And this album just continues that trend. And through it all, he still just sounds punk all the way.

Highlights: Coma Girl, Arms Aloft

6.5/10

Streetlife Serenade - Billy Joel

This dude clearly likes to name his albums starting with an S! I feel like he had been listening to a lot of Elton John here...

Highlights: Los Angelenos, Roberta

6.5/10

Stripped - Christina Aguilera

An absolute pop classic of the early-00s. I have certainly soured on everything she has done apart from this album - and it is pretty far from perfect, as well - but there is no denying her voice was iconic and some of these songs are just top-tier awesomeness.

Highlights: Fighter, Cruz, Dirrty, Get Mine Get Yours

7.5/10

Stripped: Raw and Real - Bon Jovi

Lost Highway-era Bon Jovi doing a live performance - the "Stripped" moniker seems to imply some type of acoustic thing, but Sambora clearly was not interested in that. He is cool and makes everything better for Bon Jovi, so I will allow it.

Highlights: Whole Lot Of Leavin' [Live], Wanted Dead Or Alive [Live]

6/10

Stull - Urge Overkill

I actually only have the one song from this - Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon. It has grown on me over the years, but I will always prefer Urge Overkill just being Urge Overkill instead.

7/10

Subarashiki Sekai - Pile

I only have the one song from this EP - Duel. I think the rest is on the album Tailwind(s). In fact, this song in full is as well. Talk to me about your problems...

8/10

Sueño de la Máquina - Kinky

Driving bass, funky beats, dreamy vocals and big synths. Probably their most consistent album - the whole thing is just a big electro Latin jam from start to finish.

Highlights: Perfecta, Se Borró la Noche, Alma de Neón, Después del After, Inmóvil

7.5/10

Sugar Ray - Sugar Ray

This is purely Answer the Phone. And in crap quality. It is unbelievable that this is the same hilariously awful nu-metal from the late 90s.

8/10

The Suicide Handbook - Ryan Adams

I find it hard to believe this really was how the album was supposed to be released. It is all so minimal and acoustic - it all just sounds like a big bag of demos. But then I remember that some of these were released as is on Demolition, so maybe? But 90 minutes of this is a bit much.

Highlights: Cry on Demand, Wild Flowers, For No One, Miss Sunflower

7/10

Suit - Nelly

This is not one of Nelly's albums that I have listened to all that much, but I have to admit that it is pretty darn groovy. Nelly just does his usual thing - he pretty much has the same melody in every song here - but what can you do?

Highlights: Over and Over, My Place, Paradise, N Dey Say

7/10

Summer Again [Single] - Ayumi Hamasaki

I was sure I had removed all the single doubles caused by the Remember you album, but I must have been wrong. This song is kind of fine? Trying way too hard to be a Summer dance anthem or something.

6.5/10

Summer Trap!! - WANIMA

Pre-COVID world was something else and it is hard for me to believe this EP came out right before the last Summer before it all. It is so wild and energetic. The whole thing personifies the sound of Summer - take that, Ayu!

Highlights: GONG, 夏のどこかへ, Mom

10/10

Sunburn - Fuel

I only have one song, which is surprising - I thought there were songs from this album. I recall the rest being total garbage, but I may have to revisit to make sure. Anyways, this is Shimmer. In another surprising moment, I think the song holds up!

8/10

Sunshower - Chris Cornell

I know I have the whole CD, but I think I just cut out the different versions of this song. Because this song is a masterpiece and the coda on the LP version is perfection. Gawdam Chris Cornell was the voice of my generation.

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1640

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 156

Ring Ring - ABBA

This is the least memorable ABBA album. Making your wife sing a song like I Am Just a Girl, with lyrics like "I am just a girl, not the kind of woman men would like to meet/Just another girl no one looks at in the street/" and then about how she is meant to love her man, is a form of abuse.

Highlights: Ring Ring, Rock'n Roll Band, He is Your Brother, Nina Pretty Ballerina

7/10

RIOT ON THE GRILL - ELLEGARDEN

This is the Summer album for all Summers. If you are looking for shelter in a Sharknado, come find me... and I will be too busy air-drumming to this album to help. Possibly the greatest album ever made that makes me smile so much I want to cry.

Highlights: 虹, Missing, モンスター, BBQ Riot Song, Marry Me, I Hate It, Red Hot

100/10

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars - David Bowie

Absolute peak 70s Bowie. Glam art rock with poptastic hooks. My opinion that Suffragette City is his best song still stands.

Highlights: Suffragette City, Moonage Daydream, Ziggy Stardust, Rock'n Roll Suicide

8/10

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars: 30th Anniversary Edition - David Bowie

This is the bonus disc, which features some demos and b-sides. The b-sides are as great as the demos are bad.

Highlights: Moonage Daydream (New Mix), Velvet Goldmine, John I'm Only Dancing, Round and Round

7/10

Rise Up 2.0 [Single] - Six60

I guess the 2.0 thing means it is a remix or something? I guess this is like dubstep or something? I do not know. It is kinda groovy.

7/10

River of Dreams - Billy Joel

In parts, Joel and band go pretty hard on this. There is a certain ferocity to No Man's Land that you do not often find in a Billy Joel song, and a few other tracks have some real driving feel to them. The rest of the album just feels like middle of the road radio/record label pleasing tunes.

Highlights: No Man's Land, All About Soul, The Great Wall of China, The River of Dreams

7/10

Road To Rouen - Supergrass

This is such an anomaly in the Supergrass discography; more serious rock, no fun at all to be had anywhere. Much of an artistic kind of approach, focused on good riffs. 

Highlights: Tales Of Endurance (Parts 4, 5 & 6), Road to Rouen, Kick in the Teeth, Low C

7/10

Rock 'n' Roll - John Lennon

John Lennon does a lot of cocaine and records some of his favourite rock'n roll classics to avoid getting sued. There are so much horns it almost sounds more like The Blues Brothers or something. Not a bad thing.

Highlights: Rip It Up/Ready Teddy, Stand By Me, Slippin' and Slidin', You Can't Catch Me

7/10

Rock and Roll Over - Kiss

Hells yes. Great album, RIP Ace!!!

Highlights: Take Me, I Want You, Calling Dr. Love, Makin' Love

8/10

Rock Dust Light Star - Jamiroquai

This is a bit more lowkey but straight-up electronic influenced. Wild to listen to this so soon after Return of the Space Cowboy - like a completely different band.

Highlights: All Good in the Hood, Goodbye to My Dancer, She's a Fast Persuader, Hey Floyd

6.5/10

Rock in a Hard Place - Aerosmith

Wait - so this is the album without Joe Perry or Brad Whitford and that people thought was terrible? Because I like this more than half of the albums Aerosmith did with Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. 

Highlights: Jailbait, Rock in a Hard Place (Cheshire Cat), Bolivian Ragamuffin, Jig is Up

7/10

Rock N Roll - Ryan Adams

I can never decide if this album is the ultimate in his douchery or it is actually as brilliant as it sometimes feels. Because today it feels the latter.

Highlights: 1974, The Drugs Not Working, Hypnotixed, Do Miss America

8/10

Rock N Roll B-Sides - Ryan Adams

These are not nearly as punk rock as the main album. But actually more enjoyable than I remembered.

Highlights: Red Lights, I'm Coming Over, Luxury

7/10

Rock Show [Live] - Run-D.M.C. & Third Eye Blind

This is the performance on David Letterman. I am not really sure why have this, because Stephan Jenkins is not a great live singer. But it still kicks serious butt.

8/10

ROCK-STAR - Stray Kids

More boombastic crazy stuff from JYP's favourite protégés. I mean, I do not really know if they are his favourites, but they sure make him a lot of money!

Highlights: Social Path, MEGAVERSE, COMFLEX, LALALALA

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1440

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 142

People Move On - Bernard Butler

This dude seems to be all over the works of artists I enjoy, so I was always interested in his actual solo work. It has moments of being very good. But I definitely think he works best as a guitarist and songwriter collaborator.

Highlights: Woman I Know, You Just Know, Not Alone, Stay

6.5/10

Pepperoni Quatro - ELLEGARDEN

There is something in my head that always forces me to ignore this album, like I think it is not great or the worst ELLEGARDEN album. I cannot explain it. Either way, those thoughts are insane, because this may actually be their best album? It certainly features some of their best songs. Then again, I say that about every ELLEGARDEN album. I want this marathon to end so I can just listen to ELLEGARDEN all day.

Highlights: Supernova, スターフィッシュ, Good Morning Kid, Make a Wish, ロストワールド

9/10

The Perfect Drug - Nine Inch Nails

A great NIN song, preceeded by a bunch of remixes that are very long and unnecessary. 

Highlights: The Perfect Drug (Original Version)

5/10

Perfect Symmetry - Keane

Sad English lads reinvent themselves as The Killers? Considering The Killers started out as an American rock band cosplaying as UK indie New Wave, this just gets even more confusing. It is at least a bit more feel good than their other work.

Highlights: Spiralling

6.5/10

Perfect Timing - Recloose

I think this is another NZ electro artist. Electro funk, to be more precise without actually knowing what I am talking about. It at least is a very good groove. 

Highlights: Robop, Can It Be, So Cool, Solomon's Alive

7/10

Permanent Vacation - Aerosmith

While not on the level of their following albums, this one still has some fun songs and a massive power ballad. Certainly a step up from what they had been doing previously.

Highlights: Angel, Dude (Looks Like a Lady), Permanent Vacation, Rag Doll

7/10

Permission to Land - The Darkness

On that note, let us have some more classic rock. Or at least, classic rock inspired that is now also classic rock? I mean, this album is actually 22 years-old now! Two things that stand out are: Justin Hawkins' voice on this - or at least his falsetto - is just awesome, and bah gawd there are some great hooks. 

Highlights: Growing On Me, Love is Only a Feeling, Holding My Own, Get Your Hands Off My Woman

8.5/10

Pet Your Friends - Dishwalla

This is only the song Counting Blue Cars. It is great, so I like to pretend it is the only they ever made, in case they followed it up with something awful that would make me thing less of this song.

8/10

Peter Criss - Peter Criss

Hearing The Catman do his thing sure hits different today after losing The Spaceman... but feels kind of fitting. Kind of. I wish they could have done an album together back in the 90s. My Kissathon II review seems harsh - this is a fun album.

Highlights: That's the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes, Hooked on Rock 'N' Roll, Tossin' and Turnin', You Matter to Me

6/10

PETIT BEST～ROCK'N'ROLL FITNESS 2014-2017～ - 女子独身倶楽部

I saw some girl busking in Akihabara one time and we got chatting so I bought a couple of CDs from her; I think this was her idol group (and the other CD was her solo). I used to buy anything out on the streets, just for the fun of it. It is all pretty typical idol silliness, but it is pretty harmless and there are a couple of songs that I enjoy.

Highlights: We as No. 1!, 法隆寺, いけないんだ

6/10

Philadelphia Freeway - Freeway

This is purely the song What We Do... with Jay-Z, because I watched Fade to Black and when they did this live it was awesome. Freeway loses points for taking sides with Nelly and dissing KRS-One, but this song is a vibe.

8/10

Phoenix - Zebrahead

This album feels a bit heavier than Get Nice!, which is fine. The hooks, however, are still plenty pop punk fun and makes me want to rock out in some way. The rapper dude has seriously cool flow and lyrics. The Juggernauts may well be the closest thing to a pop punk power ballad this side of PASSPO☆ and it absolutely owns. Everything else just kicks you in the face for not giving The Man the middle finger or having simply having an annoying girlfriend, I guess?

Highlights: The Juggernauts, Hell Yeah!, Just the Tip, Death By Disco

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1284

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 127

Mosaic - Wang Chung

Everybody have fun tonight! This is just peak 80s pop in all its glory. And there is a surprising amount of angry swearing at how our capitalist society is destroying our world!

Highlights: Everybody Have Fun Tonight, Let's Go, The World in Which We Live

7/10

Most of All: The Best of - Debbie Harry

Blondie were pretty cool. And Debbie Harry herself is cool. But... her solo work is pretty naff. Outside of a couple of songs, it is all very uninspired and only shows that her voice was pretty average. I am not saying someone like Mariah Carey could have made these songs more worthwhile... actually, her duetting with Iggy Pop would have been wild.

Highlights: I Want That Man, French Kissin' in the USA, Free to Fall, In Love With Love

6/10

Mother Love Bone - Mother Love Bone

These dudes had great riffs. A lot of great riffs. It is just that, in general, the rest of the song did not follow up on said great riff as well as you would want. BUT when they got it right, they really got it right. Despite the hype, I do not think they would have been any bigger had Andrew Wood lived.

Highlights: Stardog Champion, This is Shangrila, Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns, Gentle Groove

7/10

Mötley Crüe - Mötley Crüe

When this came out, I remember people using all sorts of weird genre terms to describe; thrash metal, death metal, grunge... none of them at all accurate. People just looked at images and decided that was the sound. What it DOES sound like, is awesomeness. This is still kinda Mötley Crüe - just with a different singer. And big balls. New (temporary?) singer John Corabi's voice is so different to Vince Neil's, that it always amazes me he was their first choice. It's really a good mix of the heavier/darker songs and a little more radio-friendly rock, plus Droppin' Like Flies is sort of prog? Maybe kinda not really. Smoke the Sky is some sort of ode to marijuana usage - which is odd coming from guys that were supposed to be completely free of alcohol and drugs at this point (I mean, I'm pretty sure I saw Tommy knocking back champagne when I went to his DJ gig a few years back, but whatever). Honestly, when this album came out, I know I bought in to all the negative press around it - being a big fan of the original line-up, it was hard not to. But within a few years, I was able to realise that this album is actually darn awesome. Really darn awesome.

Highlights: Misunderstood, Hooligan's Holiday, Power to the Music, Welcome to the Numb

8/10

Mountain Top [Single] - ELLEGARDEN

When this was first released, it was never going to live up to my expectations; the first single in 16 years, the first piece of recording since their reunion, and just something I never thought would happen in my lifetime. It has since grown on me and definitely appreciate it a lot more. Still sounds kind of generic rock, but at least the lyrics are great. And ELLEGARDEN are back, mofos!

8/10

The Movie - The Shit

This may well be Ryan Adams' best work ever. Certainly his greatest lyrics. A lot of Andy Fiddlesticks, Jo Jo the Parrot and punching in the nuts. KING FUCKING KONG!!!

Highlights: Honky Tonk Ba-Donkey Kong, Jimmy, Blue as a Zoo, Taco Bell in Bed, Problems

9/10

MPLSound - Prince

I only just discovered what the MPLS stands for. I am not American, okay? This is a total solo Prince album and it is just funky pop all the way. By Prince standards, it is... mediocre. Like, he probably just sat down at the computer and pumped this all out in like half a day.

Highlights: No More Candy 4 U, (There'll Never B) Another Like Me, Valentina, Ol' Skool Company

7/10

Mr. Bad Guy - Freddie Mercury

Hard to believe this was his only real solo album. It is almost what you would expect; lots of keyboards, synths and dance beats, but a lot less layered vocals than a Queen album. I get the feeling that is more of a Brian May thing. The songs reworked for Made in Heaven sound better there.

Highlights: Made in Heaven, I Was Born to Love You, Mr. Bad Guy

6.5/10

Mr. T's Commandments - Mr. T

The greatest man ever is here to tell you how to be better. The most important 30 minutes of your life, outside of watching Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool.

Highlights: The Toughest Man in the World, Mr. T Mr. T, You Got to Go Through It, The One and Only Mr. T

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1120

FREE PALESTINE

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 61

El Camino - The Black Keys

No idea where this came from. I am not sure I have listened to this or even heard a song from it in my life. Or even know who The Black Keys are. It seems fairly indie rock; short songs that all sound the same and kinda rock. 

Highlights: Lonely Boy

6/10

Electric Fire - Roger Taylor

Whoever mixed this album should have been fired - could Taylor not afford someone good? Anyways, this is quite rocking and more enjoyable than I expected. Roger Taylor is such a mixed bag sometimes it is like he saved all his best material for Queen.

Highlights: Pressure On, A Nation of Haircuts, Surrender, Is It Me?, No More Fun

6.5/10

Electronic Sound - George Harrison

George's "avant-garde a clue" album. It is nice to know that a musical genius is also entertained by making silly noises on a Moog.

Highlights: Moogs are fun!

3/10

Elephant - The White Stripes

This album is bizarre and highlights the problem with Jack White; there are awesome songs on here - and they are really awesome - but there is also garbage. And it is really boring garbage. Not really sure what his deal is, but I always get the impression he thinks he is way more amazing than he actually is? I don't know.

Highlights: Seven Nation Army, There's No Home for You Here, The Air Near My Fingers

6.5/10

ELEVEN FIRE CRACKERS - ELLEGARDEN

Pizza: ready. Drink: cold. Volume: UP! This album has everything and it is all shades of awesome. I am seeing this band tonight. In 10 hours. Needless to say, I can not wait.

Highlights: Find a bad song - I dare ya!

10//10

Eliminator - ZZ Top

Every LOGMAN's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man. Especially Jimmy Garvin. I'm sure this version of Legs is different to the one used in the video, but I could be wrong. What I am right about is that this album is at its best when it is really pushing the driving dance beats. 

Highlights: Sharp Dressed Man, Legs, Gimme All Your Lovin', Got Me Under Pressure

6.5/10

Elixer - Bria Valente

Prince really overestimated how much sex sold, IMO. I don't think any of his 'proteges' ever really hit it big the way he expected. Pretty sure he could have put more effort in to these songs and made them much better himself.

Highlights: Another Boy, All This Love

6/10

ELLEGARDEN - ELLEGARDEN

The debut E.P. from the greatest band ever. More pizza and cold drink on hand. Is there really much difference between this and the album version of The End of the World? I actually always forget about these songs, which is silly because there are a few super fun awesome songs. Only 7 1/2 hours until the concert.

Highlights: Stupid, Punk, ナイフ

9/10

ELLEGARDEN BEST (1999-2008) - ELLEGARDEN

So the actual album was my initial introduction to ELLEGARDEN and is just the best compilation ever. Of course, this is not that; I have kept the re-recorded songs (because bah gawd I actually think I love this version of Middle of Nowhere!?!?) and then thrown on all the b-sides and whatnot to make my own compilation. And it is all very very awesome because it is ELLEGARDEN and they are awesome. But also, some of their b-sides like New Year's Day and The Autumn Song are some of their absolute best songs. In fact, two of them were already on this compilation. Weirdos. 6 hours until the concert.

Highlights: New Year's Day and Don't Trust Anyone But Us are like 7 stars out of 5

9.5/10

Without ELLEGARDEN this day would have been a terrible listening experience. I need to get my butt to the concert!

"Albums" listened to so far: 494

2025 in 2025: Day 57

Dogs Eating Dogs - blink-182

This was the nail in the coffin for the first failed reunion (I'm still expecting this second one to go down in flames, as well). The songs are better than the previous album (Neighborhoods), but Tom's voice continues to get worse. Travis must genuinely love these dudes, because he is infinitely more talented and could play with any musicians he wanted - and he still chooses these goofs. 

Highlights: Pretty Little Girl, Dogs Eating Dogs, Disaster

8/10

Doing it to Death - The J.B.'s

I so wanted to start today with this album, but will just pretend I'm getting started now. Because this is pure funk. Just the funkiest jams on the planet.

Highlights: Doing It To Death (Part 1 & 2), More Peas, La Di Da La Di Day, You Can Have A Watergate Just Gimme Some Buck And I'll Be Straight

9/10

Domino [Single] - Jessie J

Sadly, not the Kiss song. I think Jessie J would sound great singing that. Great pop song, even if her voice is annoying.

7/10

Don't Believe the Truth - Oasis

I think by this time I had completely checked out on Oasis. Not sure why. Heathen Chemistry was a step backwards that perhaps I just didn't see where they were going with this one? The answer was nowhere. It is a solid album, don't get me wrong. Much more accessible and consistent than one would expect. But there is nothing new here; the same chords, same lyrics, same Oasis sound. But that is not a terrible thing, because Oasis do their thing well. And I think Liam's voice on this is pretty good. 

Highlights: Turn Up the Sun, Lyla, Part of the Queue, Let There Be Love

7/10

Don't Forget Your Roots - Six60

Oh NZ music, huh? Actually, this is a pretty groovy song.

7.5/10

Don't Look Back Into The Sun [Single] - The Libertines

Classic Libertines! Absolutely one of their best songs.

10/10

Don't Stop the Revolution - Breathe

More NZ music? That I don't hate? I mean, this album is kinda average - but it does feature a couple of very good songs. 

Highlights: Don't Stop the Revolution, Landslide, Get Yourself Together

6.5/10

DON'T TRUST ANYONE BUT US - ELLEGARDEN

ELLEGARDEN's debut album. Hilariously, my least favourite ELLEGARDEN song is apparently the one responsible for them becoming a band! This also features more guitar solos and slower songs. And ELLEGARDEN being awesome. Seriously, this album is a bit of a different vibe to everything they did after - less 'surfing party the world is a drag but let's surf and party' kind of vibes, more 'emo party surf's up emo kids' kind of vibes. I love ELLEGARDEN.

Highlights: My Favorite Song, Bare Foot, 45, 風の日, Lonesome, Sliding Door

9/10

Dónde Jugarán Las Niñas - Molotov

Angry Mexican nu-metal! I could imagine a tattoo-covered luchador coming out to one of these tracks at Arena Naucalpan. This is as much fun as a lucha libre show at Arena Nauculpan!

Highlights: Que No Te Haga Bobo Jacobo, Molotov Cocktail Party, Matate Tete, Porque No Te Haces Para Alla?...Al Mas Alla!

7/10

Done With Mirrors - Aerosmith

Oh wow, I think this is only the 2nd Aerosmith album I've had so far? But then, I am only up to albums starting with D... this is actually pretty cranking. Far more dirty rock'n roll than anything they would do after this. 

Highlights: Let the Music Do the Talking, My Fist Your Face, The Hop

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 448

2025 in 2025: Day 30

The Bridge - Billy Joel

This surely has to be Joel's most 80s sounding album, production-wise; the guitars on A Matter of Trust sound so thin and there is a fair bit of synthesizer in Running On Ice. A little bit of Cyndi Lauper is always welcome. And some Ray Charles, though he is more timeless than 80s, I guess. And Liberty DeVitto's drums still sounds aggressive, so maybe I'm just full of it and don't really know what I'm talking about?

Highlights: A Matter of Trust, Modern Woman, Code of Silence

6.5/10

Briefcase Full of Blues - The Blues Brothers

This is a live album from that legendary rhythm and blues act, The Blues Brothers. Must have been recorded before Jake went to jail? He sounds half in the bag, which only adds to how polished and downright solid the band sound. 

Highlights: Messin' with the Kid, I Don't Know, Flip Flop and Fly

6/10

Bring Ya to the Brink - Cyndi Lauper

Back to 2008? And more Cyndi Lauper? And she's doing full on dance music? I've always kind of dug this album; it isn't her best work or anything, and vocally she kind of phoned it in, in my opinion, but it still works. Because Cyndi Lauper is super cool and can do whatever she wants.

Highlights: Into the Nightlife, Same Ol' Story, Give it Up, Grab a Hold

7/10

BRING YOUR BOARD!! - ELLEGARDEN

It's 7am on a snowy Wednesday morning and I'm eating budget pizza purely because of this album. Surf's up, mofos! This may not be the greatest album on the planet, but I'll be darned if it isn't trying. The first half is probably the best 15 minutes you could ever have, outside of Jet Li beating up some fools.

Highlights: Surfrider Association, No. 13, ジターバグ, Insane

9/10

Bringing Down the Horse - The Wallflowers

This feels so quiet after that! I don't think I have listened to this album in at least 20 years; it was totally my jam in '98 and I remember busking a few songs from it back in the day, but over time I forgot how good it was? At least, how good some of the songs are. Like, it is all just harmless radio-friendly pop-rock like Matchbox 20, but with less emotion. I'd really like to hear Bob Dylan sing Josephine. 

Highlights: 6th Avenue Heartache, Bleeders, Angel on My Bike

6.5/10

Broadcast - Cutting Crew

As expected, this is purely the hit single (I Just) Died in Your Arms. Classic 80s.

7/10

Broadcast to the World - Zebrahead

I'm fairly sure this was the first album with this lineup - which seems to be the only Zebrahead lineup I like. And this is that lineup's weakest album. It's... fine? A few stand-out songs, but nothing that ever reaches the heights of their next couple of albums. I have the Japanese release, and the bonus songs from that are possibly better than anything on the actual album!

Highlights: Broadcast to the World, Postcards From Hell, Here's to You, Down in Flames

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 249

2025 in 2025: Day 19

BEST HIT AKG - ASIAN KUNG FU-GENERATION
I do love 遥か彼方. Like, it's hard to explain how awesome that song is. The rest of their hits? It's mostly okay. Nothing awful, but again fairly same-same. Although I have a feeling that if I weren't so tired and in the mood for something else, I would probably listen more intently and find more to really get into. However, my lasting memory of these guys will always be them absolutely murdering ELLEGARDEN's 虹 at the Nana-Iro Electric concert. 
Highlights: 遥か彼方, アンダースタンド, 藤沢ルーザー
7/10

Best In Show - Grinspoon
There was a time when I was unemployed and living in Melbourne, so I would spend a lot of my days at Borders listening to music (you could just scan a CD and load up the tracks to "preview"). Grinspoon's New Detention was high on my rotation at the time. But this is their greatest hits collection, so that story means nothing. This includes all their early heavy punk stuff like Dcx3, Just Ace and More Than You Are. Classic Aussie rock, this. I mean, it is over 20 years old now, so I can call it classic now. Like my time living in Melbourne. Crazy how time goes by.
Highlights: No Reason, Lost Control, Chemical Heart
6/10

The Best Of Acid Jazz - Volume 2
Fun story: I ordered, if I remember correctly, a Corduroy CD from ebay, and in the case was this CD instead. Which wasn't so bad, in the end, because I got the reissue of said Corduroy album instead, while getting more Acid Jazz in my life. This is mostly a lot more electronic than I remembered. And I was sure there was an early Jamiroquai song on here, but clearly I'm mistaken. It is quite the chillout groove vibes, though.
Highlights: Ain't No Use (Mo' Soul Mix) - Pure Wildness, Girl Overboard - Snowboy & Anna Ross
6/10

The Best of Blind Melon - Blind Melon
No Rain is the only song I have from this? That's odd - they had many great songs other than this. And ones I like a lot more. I need to get more Blind Melon.
7/10

The Best of Blondie - Blondie
Another 'best of' when I should really have their full discography. 
Highlights: Rapture, One Way or Another, Call Me
8/10

The Best of Both Worlds - Jay-Z & R. Kelly
Oh dang. This... has not aged well, has it? Particularly songs like Take You Home with Me. There are some seriously solid grooves here, but these two MFs rapping and crooning about getting it on with the ladies is a very uncomfortable listen now. And this last song is just straight up gross.
Highlights: The Best of Both Worlds, The Streets, Honey
5/10

Best of Bowie - David Bowie
This is a large compilation I should do more editing on; probably the first Bowie 'album' I owned, but have since accumulated many actual albums that contain about 70% of the songs here. Otherwise, it's 2 1/2 hours of Bowie's hits in chronological order, including songs from movies like Labyrinth. Mostly just singles versions. I need to get the full version of Absolute Beginners, because it is one of my favourite songs on the planet (I have the full soundtrack on vinyl). Suffragette City is a straight-up 12/10. Hallo Spaceboy sounds so much better live.
Highlights: Changes, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City, Young Americans, Fame, Modern Love, Blue Jean, Absolute Beginners, Magic Dance and just so much!
8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 160

TRACKS

PASSPO☆ have a store that sells records AND balloons? They're going to be bazillionaires!

It's day five of PASSPO☆ Week - and today was a confusing day for me, as it was a real battle to pick the next album to listen to. You see, the obvious choice was to go with their 5th studio album. But after some careful thought, I realised that going with the b-sides compilation I put together possibly makes more sense. The first song on it is Tracks - which was kind of the graduation song for Pink. And then tonight I'll be watching the 2015 Tokyo Dome City Hall concert, which was also Pink's graduation concert. And the majority of these b-sides are 9-member PASSPO☆. So while there will be 1 song that comes in before it should, the rest make the most sense to listen to now. Plus, I only put this together in the last few months so have listened to these songs the least, and being at work means I will get to listen to them more than I would tomorrow. I've got to try and cram in 2 Godzilla movies AND a 3 hour PASSPO☆ concert special! It's hard working being lazy...

Full Throttle! [Tracks]
This is the opener for the Tracks compilation, so I figured it worked as the correct opening track for my Tracks compilation. As I said last time, these are getting better with each album - this one rocks pretty hard and the "TAKE OFF" at the end seems a bit different to the usual.

Tracks [Tracks]
Clearly a single to serve as both promotion for the Tracks compilation AND the graduation of Pink. It's a kinda fun power-ballad and it is awesome.

燃えてろよ [Collaboration with Urbangarde]
I have no idea who Urbangarde are, but if this song is an indication of their work, then I don't care. It's like some weird arthouse dance track. Picture Lady GaGa circa-Born This Way era, but without the awesomeness.

バスタブ [Next Flight B-Side]
This is probably their purest ballad and as you would expect from something recorded during the One World sessions, it has a seriously strong 80's vibe. I could totally hear Roxette or Def Leppard doing this track. But not as great as PASSPO☆. Because my gawd this song is beautiful. Cheesy - but beautiful.

ダムダムフリーダム [WING B-Side]
Another hard rock fun track from the One World sessions. It starts off kinda weird, but the chorus is a great hook.

無題 [妄想のハワイ B-Side]
This is a fun pop-punk song. Seemed to be quite the staple of PASSPO☆ concerts.

サンキュバスディー [Truly B-Side]
And this one is even more fun. I like that I can hear some of the girls that I wouldn't normally pick out. Straight up pop-punk good times.

Cosmic You [Growing Up B-Side]
This is a little less rock and bit more dance. And for some reason the title always makes me think of Spice Girls - just because they had a song called Outer Space Girls. It makes no sense, but since when has that stopped me?

RUIN [君は僕を好きになる B-Side]
Strange how I was going in somewhat of a chronological order for a bit, but then jumped back to 2012. This is a lot darker than anything else that was on CHECK-IN. I think it could have been recorded better, but that's just me.

No.1 Boy [サクラ小町 B-Side]
This is one of those classic PASSPO☆ songs (oh shit, here we go...) where the verses are fun pop-punk but then the chorus is more electronic and dancey. The bridge is a bit more pop-punk. It slays. Whoever does the solo "賭けて" coming out of the bridge needs a hug from me (spoiler alert: it was Yellow).

Musical Party [Mr. Wednesday B-Side]
And now we'll fast-forward to 2016 briefly for the ONLY b-side during the Cinema Trip era. I remember the first time I heard this, I was like 'WTF? WME? WWF? BBQ?'. It's really very different to almost everything else in the PASSPO☆ discography - feels like a vamped up glam song (but still with heavy electric guitars, because that's what PASSPO☆ do). But now I love this number.

はっちゃけセンセーション（はっちゃけ隊#2）[Beef or Chicken? First-Class Edition Bonus Track]
The はっちゃけ隊 girls are back! More high-energy madness and nonsense that will make even a grump old jerk like me very happy.

少女飛行（結成5周年記念ver.）[Tracks]
And we close out with the closing song from the Tracks compilation - a re-recording of their biggest hit. Which is cool, because now we can get rid of Green. This version is a little rockier/better produced with a different guitar solo. I couldn't tell you which I prefer. Either way, re-recording a song that's only 2 years old feels like a totally Ayumi Hamasaki thing to do. I approve.

There are only 2 songs missing; 若者たち - a cover song they recorded for a drama or something that was only released digitally in Japan and is proving to be completely impossible for me to track down, and Blue Bird with Scott Murphy. Because it is the worst fucking PASSPO☆ song in the entire galaxy and I place all blame on Scott Murphy. Stupid fucking American that lives in Japan and plays punk music with Ellegarden and jams with PASSPO☆. Motherfucker has the life I want so I will hate him forever and go cry into my PASSPO☆ CDs.

Highlights:
Tracks, バスタブ, No.1 Boy

Lowlights:
萌えてろよ

5.5 / 7 Glowsticks