2025 in 2025: Day 182

The Very Best of Cool Jazz - Various Artists

So jazz really is not my thing. It is fine and dandy, but for me it mostly works as background music. Especially a compilation like this, that focuses on the more relaxed and chilled out numbers.

Highlights: I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - Tony Bennett & Count Basie, She's on the Ball - Ray Charles, Round About Midnight - Wes Montgomery, Take Five - Quincy Jones

6/10

The Very Best of Eddie Cochran - Eddie Cochran

Another brutally tragic story of 50s rock'n roll. Wild to think what kind of music and influence this guy could have had if he made it to the 60s, because some of his wild rockabilly numbers are just all kinds of fun. 

Highlights: C'mon Everybody, Summertime Blues, Somethin' Else, Twenty Flight Rock

7.5/10

The Very Best of Elton John - Elton John

I may well be in the minority, but for as good as Elton John was in the 70s, I find some of his 80s output to actually be somewhat superior. The production is certainly better. I mean, has anyone actually sat down with headphones and paid attention to what is going on in Your Song? Because it is a mess. Meanwhile, songs like Nikita can be used as reference to demo your sound system!

Highlights: I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues, I'm Still Standing, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)

7.5/10

The Very Best of Kim Wilde - Kim Wilde

True to form, this is only the hit song You Keep Me Hangin' On. Which truly is the VERY best of Kim Wilde.

9/10

The Very Best of Play Bach - Jacques Loussier

More jazz, you say? At least this is the kind of jazz I can dig; phenomenal jazz renditions of classical pieces. 

Highlights: Siciliano In G Minor, Sleepers Awake

6.5/10

The Very Best of Rod Stewart - Rod Stewart

Hey, now! I already have a full "best of Rod Stewart"! But Forever Young is not included, so I had to get that elsewhere, I guess. Classic 80s drive. I really should just shoehorn this in to that other compilation...

9/10

The Very Best of Rose Royce - Rose Royce

I only have Car Wash. It is a bonafide funky jam!

9/10

VH1 Divas Live - Cher

This is purely Cher performing If I Could Turn Back Time - at what I can only assume was a VH1 Divas Live concert, because that is what the file says. I got this because Cher's performance at her Las Vegas concert rocked my world. This version does not!

5/10

View of the Rain - Urge Overkill

I got this EP free with Exit the Dragon and these are all live songs recorded in Australia. And they rock. Because Urge Overkill were legit. Still are, I guess!

Highlights: The Break (Live), Crack Babies (Live)

7/10

Vindicated - Dashboard Confessional

I know no other Dashboard Confessional songs. I once heard some being played in a music shop in Melbourne some 23 years ago, but that was about it. If they have anything else like this song, let me know. Because it is a gawdam brilliant track.

9/10

The Visitors - ABBA

Their last album for 40 years and some of this would have fit nicely in Chess. Less disco pop and more of a mature pop album - exceptionally done.

Highlights: When All Is Said and Done, Slipping Through My Fingers, The Visitors, Head Over Heels

7.5/10

Vitalogy - Pearl Jam

I feel like with this album they were caught up in their own hype and thought they were The Beatles or something - because this album sounds like a band trying to make their own Let It Be. Which is not a compliment. Probably the last Pearl Jam album to have any sort of teeth and before Eddie Vedder's voice got too annoying. But bah gawd the good songs here are just incredibly good.
Highlights: Nothingman, Corduroy, Immortality, Better Man

7.5/10

Viva Elvis: The Album - Elvis Presley

I only have one song from this and it is the incredible remix/reimagining of Suspicious Minds. I genuinely should check out the rest of this album, because turning this into a big emo arena rock song actually works. Helps to have an awesome vocal from The King to base it around.

10/10

Vivid - Living Colour

This album is like the most socially conscious hair metal album that will ever exist. And I am not using the hair metal term as any sort of insult, because these guys are awesome. Maybe more of a funk metal, really? 

Highlights: Cult of Personality, Open Letter (To a Landlord), Which Way to America?, Glamour Boys

8.5/10

Vivir - Enrique Iglesias

This sure is some corny late 90s Latin pop that sounds more like 80s pop, but it also still very much sounds like Enrique being Enrique. Which means I enjoy it. Absolutely nothing a Luchador would use as their entrance music, though.

Highlights: El Muro, Volveré, Miente, Lluvia Cae

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1800

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2025 in 2025: Day 160

The Scandalous Sex Suite - Prince

Remixes of Scandalous from the Batman soundtrack. One has a big extended guitar solo, one has Kim Basinger talking like Prince is trying to mack on her.

Highlights: That big guitar solo?

6.5/10

Scary Monsters - David Bowie

80s Bowie is just a lot of fun with his oddity. And funky basslines. 

Highlights: Ashes to Ashes, Fashion, Kingdom Come, Teenage Wildlife

7/10

Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters

Is this gayest album of 2004? Turning Pink Floyd into a club dance song would certainly suggest that. The whole thing just constantly switches between Elton John doing 70s pop and late 90s club remixes. 

Highlights: Music is the Victim, Take Your Mama Out, Filthy/Gorgeous, Laura

6.5/10

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

Super hipster indie rock all the way, but some of it is pretty good. Especially the songs performed by the bands in the movie. I would totally go to a Sex Bob-omb concert.

Highlights: We Are Sex-Bob-omb - Sex Bob-omb, Black Sheep - Metric, Teenage Dream - T-Rex, Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl - Broken Social Scene

6.5/10

Scoundrel Days - a-ha

More of the usual from these dudes, somewhat darker? It was the mid-90s, so everyone was on that kick, but it is still kind of a mature pop thing.

Highlights: Cry Wolf, Manhattan Skyline, Scoundrel Days, The Swing of Things

7/10

Scream & Shout [Single] - will.i.am

It says Britney Spears is here, but is that her doing the British speaking voice? Repetitive trash. Which could apply to almost every song by will.i.am or Britney Spears.

4/10

Sea Change - Beck

This was the album that got me interested in Beck; it is more acoustic and introspective than anything else he had released to that point, and that was the sort of thing I saw myself doing. There are some good songs, but some of it is a bit... uninteresting. All very chill. Particularly compared to his other work.

Highlights: Sunday Sun, Lost Cause, Lonesome Tears

6/10

Second Sighting - Frehley's Comet

Nothing as catchy as the debut Frehley's Comet album, but still pretty decent Ace Frehley rock album. His style never changes. And that was a good thing. RIP Ace!!!

Highlights: Insane, It's Over Now, Loser in a Fight, Juvenile Delinquent

7/10

Secret - Ayumi Hamasaki

Big beats. Big strings. Big rock guitars. Big hooks. Big ballads. Big feels. Big anthems. If I ever met an Ayu fan that did not love this album, I would be big skeptical of them. 

Highlights: Startin', Born to Be..., kiss o' kill, BLUE BIRD, Beautiful Fighters

9/10

Secret Samadhi - Live

This was Live trying to be a bit darker and edgier and just ending up being noisier and messier. And half these songs genuinely sound the same. Some really lame lyrics and even lamer guitar solos.

Highlights: Graze, Lakini's Juice, Gas Hed Goes West

6/10

SEE YOU - BiSH

Ah I missed BiSH! BiSH is OVER episode something seven? For every great month, there was a really average month. This was one of the latter.

Highlights: I am wasting my time with this marathon when I could be listening to better BiSH

6/10

Seeker Lover Keeper - Seeker Lover Keeper

Three of Australia's top indie folk women unite to make a super group of indie folk women and the result is... amazing lyrics and killer harmonies. I would say it is possibly a little underwhelming, but honestly it is pretty much what it says it is on the box. And I will always have all the heart emojis for Sarah Blasko.

Highlights: Even Though I'm a Woman, Light All My Lights, Bridges Burned, We Will Know What It Is

7/10

Send Away the Tigers - Manic Street Preachers

The most consistent rock album by the Manics. It is just straight up Summer rock, like they have been listening to ELLEGARDEN all Summer like me! Except Summer is only just beginning. And replace actual Summer lyrics with a communist manifesto.

Highlights: Your Love Alone is Not Enough, Indian Summer, The Second Great Depression, Rendition, Autumnsong

9/10

Seventeen Seconds - The Cure

Well, this sure is a change of pace. The REAL first album by The Cure. Lots of dark space and atmosphere and clean guitars.

Highlights: A Forest, Seventeen Seconds, Play For Today

7/10

SEX AND LOVE - Enrique Iglesias

Enrique and every guest artist he could find! And Pitbull just hanging around as usual. Some of this is just by the numbers, but some of it is a full on PARTY! And the ballads are pretty much all perfection.

Highlights: Bailando, There Goes My Baby, El Perdedor, Physical, Heart Attack

7/10

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

I gave a detailed review of this album waaaay back in the day! And I still maintain it is overrated.

Highlights: A Day in the Life, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, With a Little Help from My Friends, Sgt, Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1485

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2025 in 2025: Day 148

Q Division Demos - Ryan Adams

Minimalist acoustic demos of songs that would later appear... on other demos? And better?

Highlights: Quick

5/10

Quaternary - Mötley Crüe
Back in 1994, we didn't have the internet to download everything we needed, so the only way to get this was some special fan club or something. It was very limited. Anyways, if I remember correctly it was just 4 songs written by each member: Tommy Lee does his best Linkin Park tribute before Linkin Park were even in High School, Mick Mars gets his blues guitar instrumental going, Nikki Sixx thinks he is NIN and Stabbing Westward attending deep therapy sessions, and John Corabi... mistakes himself for one of The Beatles? Dude - you are in Mötley Crüe. Oh wait; there is a 5th song that involves all of the band. It sounds like most of the songs found on Mötley Crüe. Which is good. Also, there is a whole bunch of studio banter between songs. Most of it makes me want to slap these guys. I play life on Expert level, so there are a bunch of bonus tracks here that are completely unnecessary and are actually longer than the original EP. 

Highlights: Planet Boom, Babykills, 10000 Miles Away, Livin' in the No [Demo]

6.5/10

Queen - Queen

Q is for Queen. Duh! Their debut album has some highlights, for sure, but it is very heavily reminiscent of Led Zepplin and other blues rock bands at the time that were considered heavy. And - controversial opinion - Mercury's voice on this album was kind of just above average.

Highlights: Keep Yourself Alive, Liar, Great King Rat, Son and Daughter

7.5/10

Queen Forever - Queen

This is a self-made compilation of all the b-sides and non-album songs - including the one song with Michael Jackson they were able to release. I kind of like that 30 years later they are still trickling out the occassional song they have decided to complete and suckering fools like me in to buying their albums again. 

Highlights: I Go Crazy, Soul Brother, I Can't Live With You (1997 Queen Rocks Version), There Must Be More to Life Than This (with Michael Jackson)

7/10

Queen I - Queen

Speaking of ways to sucker me in to buying things... the first Queen album remixed with modern sounding drums and autotune on the vocals! As someone that has spent most of his life listening to this album, it sure is jarring to hear it this way. But also interesting? Thanks to the use of alternate takes being added to the mix. I still would never have put Mad the Swine on the album, because that song is seriously lame.

Highlights: Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll, Great King Rat, Son and Daughter

7.5/10

Queen I At The BBC - Queen

Most of the album performed "live" on the BBC - somewhat live. Somewhat. And some of it is played twice, because this covers four different sessions. Kind of a jumble? Still leaves a lot of BBC stuff to be remixed/remastered - hopefully they get to that so I can feel justified not ever purchasing the Live On Air box set.

Highlights: "Son and Daughter" (BBC Session 2, July 1973), "Great King Rat" (BBC Session 3, December 1973), "Keep Yourself Alive" (BBC Session 1, February 1973)

7/10

Queen I: De Lane Lea Demos - Queen

The original demos also get the remix treatment. It makes them sound pretty epic, I have to admit. I dig all the acoustic guitar in Keep Yourself Alive. Jesus is a massive bluesy jam. 

Highlights: Liar, The Night Comes Down, Keep Yourself Alive

7/10

Queen I: Instrumentals - Queen

Quite fun to hear everything going on in the new mixes without the vocals getting in the way. Of course, Queen just can not help themselves and there are still a bunch of backing vocals in these. In fact, Great King Rat still features a few main vocal lines for fun. Mad the Swine is actually better as an instrumental! This all might be a good way for me to sit down and learn to play these songs properly? Haha yeah that will never happen. I am no Brian May!

Highlights: Liar, Great King Rat, Keep Yourself Alive, Mad the Swine

7/10

Queen I: Sessions - Queen

And we are still not done! Now we get the album in 'alternate take' form; some fully finished and unused versions, some test sessions with guide vocals, some acoustic jams with Mercury providing mouth guitar solos. Those are the best parts. Actually, my personal highlight was Brian May calling Freddie Mercury by his REAL name! And boy do they like telling someone they were the one that messed up a song. I would have HATED being in this band. I would have been getting called out every 45 seconds...

Highlights: See What a Fool I've Been (De Lane Lea Test Session), Liar (Trident Take 1), Keep Yourself Alive (Trident Take 13)

6/10

Queen II - Queen

Finally moving on to their second album and boy howdy, what a difference 6 months makes! This thing is epic and grand and everything that Queen is known for and I love them for it. Mercury's voice is already improved 200% and while the songs are still lyrically kind of Tolkien-esque and somewhat biblical, it actually works much better with all the guitar orchestras and layers upon layers of vocals.

Highlights: The March of the Black Queen/Funny How Love Is, Father to Son, White Queen (As it Began), Ogre Battle

9/10

Queens are Trumps -切り札はクイーン- - SCANDAL

Things start off like a damned Aerosmith album (a good one), then promptly gets in to Josie and the Pussycats territory, before giving us some disco rock? There is some full on electropop in here as well, but the pop punk is where these girls always shine brightest. Mami's voice has really grown on me and the songs she sings are becoming my favourites. 

Highlights: 声, Queens are trumps, Rock'n Roll, Bright

7/10

Queens of Noise - The Runaways

Much more of an attempt at something polished and made for the masses, or something. I always forget Joan Jett sings the title track, because live it was Cherie Currie.

Highlights: Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin, Queens of Noise, Take It or Leave It, I Love Playin' with Fire

7/10

Quizás - Enrique Iglesias

Enrique gets his Spanish crooning going. Big time; the first half is just full on ballads - some of them very slow and possibly romantic, while he kind of picks up the energy a bit in the second half. Sounds like a sports game. Maybe a lucha libre match? La Parka would smash everyone, but likely would not walk out to a song by Enrique.

Highlights: No Apagues La Luz, Para Qué La Vida, Quizás, Marta

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1348

There is no way I see myself finishing the remaining 677 in less than two months, but hey - Q is for Quitting is for Quitters!

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2025 in 2025: Day 101

INKYMAP - INKYMAP

Just saw their drummer has left the group. That is a real bummer, because these guys just get better and better and this album is a shining example of how consistently great their brand of punk rock is. Just great track after great track.

Highlights: 飛行機雲, Morning Glory, 93, D.W.C.

8.5/10

innocent arrogance - BiSH

The "final" BiSH single. After what was supposed to be the final single at the end of the whole 'BiSH iS OVER' thing. And this was only the final until they did BiSH THE NEXT. Which produced two singles. Crazy stuff. This is big epic stuff. Not perfect, but still decent.

8/10

An Innocent Man - Billy Joel

The influence of 50s rock'n roll and doo wop feature heavily on this album. There is even some 60s Elvis vibes to some of these tracks. And Joel's love for Christie Brinkley is all over this. Which is completely understandable.

Highlights: The Longest Time, Christie Lee, Keeping the Faith, Tell Her About It

7/10

Innuendo - Queen

The most perfect guitar tone, which even makes up for Freddie Mercury singing about his cat peeing on his bed. The Show Must Go On may well be the greatest and most appropriate album closer in rock history. The best until the very end.

Highlights: Innuendo, Headlong, These are the Days of Our Lives, Bijou, The Show Must Go On

8/10

Inside In/Inside Out - The Kooks

Standard mid-00s British indie rock fare. The use of acoustic guitar everywhere adds a nice flavour. Pretty decent stuff, really.

Highlights: Sofa Song, She Moves in Her Own Way, Naïve, Time Awaits

6.5/10

Inside Out - MC Hammer

Hammer is back with his MC title and a sound that is very 1995. Well, the first half is; it is classic hip-hop and it grooves hard. The second half of the album is gospel. This may well be his most consistent album! It lacks the real highs of his earlier work, but there is nothing bad and he mostly has the song lengths under control. Mostly.

Highlights: Keep On, Everything is Alright, Bustin Loose, A Brighter Day

7.5/10

Insomniac - Green Day

Like Dookie, I used to perform a number of these songs while busking. Which was silly, because this album is far less known that Dookie. But not caring about that is punk rock. And this album being less popular also makes it more punk by default. That is absolutely how this works.

Highlights: Stuart and the Ave, Brain Stew, Westbound Sign, 86

8/10

Insomniac - Enrique Iglesias

This is really the most non-interesting album Enrique has made. It is all just... there. And for far too long. And why does this version have a bunch of remixes of songs not from this album?

Highlights: Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song), Sweet Isabel, Dímelo, Not In Love (Armand Van Helden Club Mix - Feat. Kelis)

6.5/10

Interstate 46 EP - MONOEYES

Three songs. Gone has awesome use of half-time, which I am always a sucker for in punk rock. I needed some 細美さん - it has been too long!

Highlights: Interstate 46, Borderland, Gone

9/10

Into the Fire - Bryan Adams

I have lived with an error on this CD for the past 32 years. So I have never heard Victim of Love run through perfectly. Such a crime! Anyways, this is BA's best album. No big hits, just really classy songwriting all through, hitting on some personal topics like Canada's treatment of idigenous people and stuff like that. Also the lead guitar work from both BA and Keith Scott is tremendous; never overplaying anything, just really super tasteful. Oh, and killer tone.

Highlights:

9.5/10

Into the Gap - Thompson Twins

This is purely the excellent Hold Me Now. Could it be more of an 80s British new-wave pop song? Brilliant song.

10/10

Into the Sun - Sean Lennon

From a songwriting point of view, Sean Lennon is quite good. Probably a decent mix of his Father's penchant for pop sensibilities fused with his Mother's avant-garde approach to things. His voice is what lets it all down. That and everything on this album being completely unmemorable.

Highlights: [insert that gif of Vincent Vega looking around completely lost and high as a MF]

6/10

Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy

This was the big 'comeback' album, and it is certainly full of big beats and breaks like any good albums from The Prodigy should. It is like a high-energy non-stop barrage of dance beats!

Highlights: Invaders Must Die, Omen, Run With the Wolves, World's On Fire, Stand Up

8.5/10

Invaders Must Die: Lost Beats - The Prodigy

The bonus disc to Invaders Must Die. I could probably rename it to just Lost Beats if I really wanted to. It is also much less necessary than Invaders Must Die.

Highlights: Wild West 

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 864

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2025 in 2025: Day 66

Escape - Journey

That opening song is ridiculous and the rest of the album cannot live up to it, but still a decent album overall. Nothing bad. A few great songs.

Highlights: Don't Stop Believin'

7.5/10

Escape - Enrique Iglesias

Now THIS is an Enrique Iglesias album! Pop dance coolness personified. The Spanish version of Escape (Escapar) is hilarious, because they didn't bother to redo the backing vocals where he still sings in English. Maybe Enrique did not want to attempt to hit that high note again? Same thing happens in No Apagues La Luz, so I am definitely going to assume that. Or the producer did not want to have to hear Enrique attempt the high notes. Maybe both!

Highlights: Escape, Don't Turn Off the Lights, Maybe, Heroe

9/10

The Essential Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson

This is just a handful of songs that are not on MJ's solo albums pre-Off The Wall - mostly consists of Jackson 5 songs. Which only serves to remind me that I do not have any Jackson 5 albums, so am officially a loser.

Highlights: I Want You Back, ABC, Blame it on the Boogie, Can You Feel It

8/10

The Essential O'Jays - The O'Jays

And if only to further emphasise my loser status, this is only the song Love Train. It is a perfect soul jam, but I really should have more O'Jays. What a loser.

10/10

Euphoria - Enrique Iglesias

What is this? Awesome Enrique day?? The Spanish language tracks on this are stronger than the English ones, but that is not such a surprise. I Like It is awesome no matter if Pitbull appears or not.

Highlights: I Like It, Cuando Me Enamoro, Dile Que, Everything's Gonna Be Alright

7/10

Even More Dazed and Confused (Music From the Motion Picture) - Various Artists

They should have just released a big box set of all the music in the movie. Because the whole movie is full of awesome 70s rock songs. Never Been Any Reason must be one of the most underappreciated gems of the entire music world.

Highlights: No More Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper, Never Been Any Reason - Head East, Balinese - ZZ Top

7/10

Everybody!! - WANIMA

These guys never fail to raise a smile. I wish the weather was sunny to give them the respect they deserve! Plus it just feels wrong to listen to this kind of awesome summer music when it is grey and cloudy and I don't have a nice cold Pepsi...
Highlights: OLE!!, シグナル, ヒューマン, CHARM, ANCHOR

8.5/10

Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers

Sometimes I think I do not actually like Manic Street Preachers as much as I think I do. Does that make sense? Like, I have this idea in my head that they are an awesome band that I really like, but then when I listen to them I don't actually dig it as much as I think I am going to. Anyways, I came in to listening to this album now thinking that way, but turns out I do like it a lot; A Design For Life is a bonafide 5 star hall of fame classic, and the rest of the album is pretty darn solid, as well. I have the 10th Anniversary edition or something, and it has all these live tracks that come after the album and kill the good vibe I was leaving with. They must go.

Highlights: A Design For Life, Australia, Interiors (Song for Willem De Kooning)

8/10 for the original album, 7/10 with all the other stuffs

Everything Must Go: 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition [Disc 2] - Manic Street Preachers

The demos are kind of fine? Certainly interesting from a development point of view. The rehearsals are... pointless. Unless you want to hear a badly recorded distorted live recording? The b-sides are mostly okay and b-sides for a reason. This is the stuff that makes me think I think I like them more than I actually do...

Highlights: Small Black Flowers That Grow In The Sky [Demo], Australia [Stephen Hague Production], The Girl Who Wanted To Be God [Stephen Hague Production]

5.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 529

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 46

Cosas Del Amor - Enrique Iglesias

How about we start the day with some beautiful Spanish crooning from Rogan Rodriguez's best friend and the hottest man in 90s pop? Okay, if you insist! Normally, I would prefer Enrique being the party man and pumping out something with a big beat and lots of fun. Most times it seems to include Pitbull, for some reason (I'm guessing Pitbull doesn't have much going on and just begs to be involved, because he wants to be friends with Rogan Rodriguez as well). But this album is mostly ballad after ballad, and they are mostly very good! And then there is one fun song in Para De Jugar, which also features some lady singing in English - they couldn't find someone that can speak Spanish? Or teach this women a few words in Spanish? Selfish cow.

Highlights: Cosas Del Amor, Para De Jugar, Desnudo, Sirena

8/10

The Cosmic Game - Thievery Corporation

Super chill lo-fi UK-influenced garage electronica. Good grooves on a cold morning like this. Even features some more Spanish singing. But it isn't Enrique Iglesias. They should have hired Enrique Iglesias.

Highlights: Warning Shots, Pela Janela, Sol Tapado, Holographic Universe

6.5/10

Cosmic Thing - The B-52's

Sometimes the retro fun of The B-52's - with lines about putting your caboose on the President's desk - is super... fun. But, I have to be honest; Bon Jovi did Dry County much betterer. Overall just a fun pop album. Fred is a super cool dude.

Highlights: Love Shack, Roam, Cosmic Thing, Junebug

7.5/10

The Cosmos Rocks - Queen + Paul Rodgers

Queen! Well, only half of them, really... but I will take it. Brian May using a wah pedal? That doesn't happen often. This one feels a lot more like old white man blues rock at times, which is acceptable given they are old British white dudes. They can still pump out a killer rock ballad better than anyone in the business, that's for sure. We Believe could easily just be too cheesy, but something about Rodgers' delivery makes it work. And that guitar solo. Some of the heavier stuff on here doesn't really do it for me, but overall this is a pretty decent release and it is a shame they haven't released anything since.

Highlights: Cosmos Rockin', Small, We Believe, Say It's Not True, Small reprise

7.5/10

COUNTDOWN LIVE 2019-2020 ～Promised Land～ A - Ayumi Hamasaki

The title says it all. Personally, I was not that impressed with this concert; I do not support Ayu doing concerts using only backing tracks, particularly in a large arena like this. She should always use a full live band. And this was the period where it had become the Ayu & Timmy show - that dude really tried to take over and make things about him as much as possible. It also does not help that she opens with one of my least favourite Ayu songs. And her voice sounds shot by the second song. In fairness to my Empress, this was only a few months after giving birth to her first child, so I will let it slide. 

Highlights: UNITE!, sending mail, evolution

6/10

Country Grammar - Nelly

Nelly + Ced The Entertainer were a great combo - his albums all went downhill once they stopped collaborating. And was this when every rapper had a crew like they were Wu Tang Clan? Like, Nelly out here on his debut album promoting his crew all over the place, like he and them matter to everyone. Save that nonsense for when you've been around a few years and had a bunch of hits. Which he did with this album. So yeah, it will be fine when he does it on the next album.

Highlights: Ride With Me, E.I, Tho Dem Wrappas, Luven Me

7.5/10

Cowboy Technical Sessions - Ryan Adams

Some old DRA demos? Only one of these ended up on anything later, though I would have liked to hear another version of Ghost. Liar is like L7 meets Nirvana kind of punk.

Highlights: Ghost, My Love For You Is Real

7/10

Cradle 2 the Grave (Soundtrack) - Various Artists

The best Jet Li and DMX movie boasts the hardest hip-hop soundtrack to a Jet Li movie. If X Gon' Give it to Ya doesn't get you going, then you might be dead. I'm not sure what someone would have to do to invoke the wrath of not just Obie Trice, but also Eminem AND DMX. They are three angry men. Is Stompdashitoutu the best song title ever? Certainly is a helluva hook. DMX turning into a preacher was very unexpected. A bunch of rappers I had never heard of before this album - or after - but some killer tracks up in herre!

Highlights: X Gon' Give it to Ya - DMX, Go to Sleep - DMX & Eminem & Obie Trice, Right/Wrong - DMX, Getting Down - DMX & Big Stan

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 354