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 119

Love Again - Ayumi Hamasaki

This is not an album I listen to often - quite likely my least listened to Ayu album, or at least right up there. It is not necessarily bad or anything - there a few awesome songs and the interludes are really great - but I find it a bit... generic. This whole little period post-Power of Music is her most average. Colours was awesome and put an end to that. I should listen to Colours again...

Highlights: snowy kiss, untitled for her... story 2, Ivy, Bye-bye darling

7.5/10

Love and Fear - Jimmy Barnes

Barnesy's usual brand of Aussie rock, but with more of a modern/updated sound. Which, at this point, is now 20 years-old. Big rock guitars, a few big beats. No rapping on this one, but def some R&B on that one song.

Highlights: Time Will Tell, Temptation, Love Gone Cold

6.5/10

The Love Below - Outkast

Or really an Andre 3000 solo album with Big Boi on a couple of tracks. Look, Imma be real with you with all: I find Andre 3000 really pretentious and annoying. And this album is a lot of nonsense and sex, without actually being sexy, if you know what I mean. In the middle are two certified bangers, but they are just surrounded by the stupidest collection of skits and... whatever this is. None of it feels like actual songs.

Highlights: Hey Ya!, Roses

4/10

Love Demolition - Zowie

I think this is NZ pop? I was given this CD by... someone? And they were given it... somewhere? Clearly a heavy influence from Lady Gaga going on here. It is actually mostly decent. Or at least listenable. Hey - that is a very high compliment for me when it comes to New Zealand music!

Highlights: You Treat Me (Like I'm Software), My Calculator, Nothing Else, Ping Ping

6.5/10

Love Gun - Kiss

This album is just what I needed this morning to get back on track! Just about peak Kiss, right here. Well, I mean, they peaked for like 3 years and it was basically downhill after this, but this album rules the schools.

Highlights: I Stole Your Love, Love Gun, Got Love for Sale, Plaster Caster

9/10

Love is Hell - Ryan Adams

No one will ever convince me this album is as good as people try to pretend it is. I am not saying it is terrible - because I listened to The Love Below this morning, so I know terrible - but it is not the amazing triumph that Ryan Adams fans think it is.

Highlights: This House is Not For Sale, Love is Hell, Wonderwall, Please Do Not Let Me Go

6/10

Love is Hell Rarities - Ryan Adams

Some of these songs are fine. Some are better than some of the songs on Love is Hell. Some are just a continuation of the miserable mediocrity found on Love is Hell. And this version of This Is It is the worst I have ever heard.

Highlights: Gimme Sunshine, I Want to Go Home

5.5/10

Love is Hell: New York Sessions - Ryan Adams

I am going to kill myself...

Highlights: I am dead like Charlie Kirk

5/10

Love Live! School Idol Project - μ's

Oh hey, I did a cleanup of this stuff a few years ago. I actually thought it was last Winter, but apparently time goes VERY quickly! Yeah yeah iDOL is SHiT and all that, but this is exactly what I needed after 3 hours of DRA being a black cloud. These girls are the rainbow and sunshine washing his BS away. I need to learn No brand girls on guitar. And bah gawd that bassline in どんなときもずっと is phenomenal.

Highlights: No brand girls, どんなときもずっと, Wonderful Rush, 僕らは今のなかで

8/10

Love Live! Sunshine - Aqours (and others)

Why, yes - I did a cleanup for these songs the day after doing so for μ's. This was more complex, because I had everything still split across like 4 albums and all sub-unit names are being used for the artists, etc. I may have to watch an episode of this show tonight.

Highlights: 勇気はどこに？君の胸に！, 君のこころは輝いてるかい？, SELF CONTROL!!, Landing action Yeah!!

7.5/10

Love Songs - Ayumi Hamasaki

Start the day with Ayu and end the day with Ayu! I always forget this album actually came out before the Power of Music concert - mostly because there is almost nothing from it performed at that show - and I consider it the start of the 'lame' period of Ayu's career. Well, first lame period. The second would be the last 4 or 5 years. Like most Ayu albums, it is a mix of various styles, but country rock is certainly a first!

Highlights: Thank U, Love song, MOON, blossom, sending mail

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1044

FREE PALESTINE

2025 in 2025: Day 69

So we begin the F albums. F is for Fun!

Faith - The Cure

Fun is not how I would describe this album at all! It more follows the D pattern; Dark, Depressing, Droning and... Done?

Highlights: Primary, The Funeral Party, The Drowning Man, Faith

7/10

Faithless Street - Whiskeytown

I thought I said FUN?!? During my marathon 10 years ago, I called this album "awesome". I also watched WrestleMania every day for 31 days, so clearly I had brain damage.

Highlights: Drank Like a River, If He Can't Have You, 16 Days, Factory Girl

5.5/10

FAKE METAL JACKET - BiSH

F is for FINALLY SOME FUN! I am not overstating* when I say this is one of the most important albums of the 21st Century. When I first discovered it, I had the tracklisting all borked and that meant that I am still way more used to hearing the songs in a different order.

*Clearly overstating like a mofo

Highlights: BiSH -星が瞬く夜に-, Primitive, beautifulさ, デパーチャーズ, ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

8.5/10

FALLINLOVE2NITE [Single] - Prince (feat. Zooey Deschanel)

Prince turning up on a random episode of New Girl was the most shocking moment in television history. Next to Fonzie managing to clear those sharks on his jet skis...

8/10

False Smiles - Amy Studt

I have had Misfit in my song library since 2003 - long before I even had any form of iTunes. Then I got iTunes and decided to fill in the rest of the album. And quickly found that it is not even the best song on the album! Criminal that the singles were not bigger hits (the album, not so much).

Highlights: Misfit, Under the Thumb, Ladder in My Tights, Nobody

6.5/10

The Fame - Lady Gaga

Game changer. Crazy listening back now and hearing how different she sounds. Like all Gaga albums, it is a bit too long - cut a few songs and it would be pretty darn near perfect - but this is still a super fun pop album.

Highlights: Paparazzi, Poker Face, I Like It Rough, The Fame

7/10

The Fame Monster - Lady Gaga

To me, this is Gaga's artistic peak. I would come out of retirement to perform this album. Or even one song from it. Like the song, I am speechless. Dance in the Dark is life. Is Telephone the best thing Beyoncé has ever done? Shiiizz, I thought I told you - I ain't afraid of you mofos!

Highlights: Bad Romance, Monster, Speechless, Dance in the Dark, Telephone

9.5/10

Familiar To Millions - Oasis

Oasis live in 2000. Liam's voice is rather terrible. Noel actually sounds decent. I used to jam along to this album a lot, because it is a decent 'compilation' of fun songs to play and being a live show they are all in the same key, so I would not have to switch around guitars. Plus some of the solos and whatnot are a bit more groovy on here. Probably due to actually having a real lead guitar player? It is all still rather simple, but, by George, they are fun to play.

Highlights: Fuckin' in the Bushes, Go Let It Out, Supersonic, Step Out, Gas Panic!, Live Forever, Helter Skelter

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 552

2025 in 2025: Day 34

CARROTS and STiCKS - BiSH

Releasing CARROTS and STiCKS as two separate EPs before releasing this album was also probably their biggest scam until the whole 'we are disbanding... one day'. This was the biggest switch to being a straight up pop band, in my opinion; there's still full on punk stuff going on here and some badass riffs and whatnot, but also some very catchy radio-friendly pop rock sort of things. MORE THAN LiKE may well be their best pop song ever and Glasses' delivery on that one line is awesome. It's a pity the mastering on that one song is really messed up. STiCKS in general, as an EP, was the most chill pop stuff they had released up to that point. It also features some serious great bass playing, particularly on I am me. And then CARROTS was mostly crazy. So needless to say, this album is all over the place and totally schizophrenic. 

Highlights: MORE THAN LiKE, FiNALLY, I am me., GRUNGE WORLD

7/10

CARROTS and STiCKS [Bonus Disc] - BiSH

Of course I purchased the deluxe version of this album, because the bonus disc was a collection of all the singles released between their previous album and this one. Well, before the CARROTS and STiCKS EPs. Sure, another disc totally obsolete thanks to the pizza box that I am yet to import to my iTunes library, but I have no regrets. This disc is awesome and there is not a bad song on it. 

Highlights: HiDE the BLUE, NON TiE-UP, 二人なら

9/10

Carved in Stone - Vince Neil

Remember when I was going to do my Mötley Crüe Marathon, but had to quit halfway through because of another lockdown, which meant I watched every episode of UWF instead? What a time to be alive... Anyways, I actually listened to this album for the first time ever during that time and even wrote a mini-review that is still sitting in draft:

I remember seeing this album on sale, but never actually picking it up. I was too busy spending all my money on Pearl Jam bootlegs like a clown. Anways... what the actual fuck?!? Vince doing rap/rock?? One Way has a funky R&B saxophone solo. In fact, it sounds like new-jack-era Michael Jackson. Now that I've realised that, this album is getting high marks! Black Promises is more in that standard 1995 rock sound. And then we get a ballad about his dead daughter. I'd criticise a lot of aspects, but I'm sure it wasn't easy to do, considering the timing. Still doesn't excuse it from being a bad song, though. Can we go back to rap/rock new-jack swing? Instead I get more Alice In Chains meets Audioslave inspired angry music. Which Vince sounds surprisingly good singing. But, dammit, you started this album with weird genre-mashing stupid music and I want more of that!!! Liar.

Highlights: One Way, Find A Dream

6/10

Catching Tales - Jamie Cullum

I am so familiar with this artist that I couldn't even spell his surname properly... he would seem to be kind of like Amy Winehouse, except not nearly as interesting. 

Highlights: Hopefully this CD was cheap?

5/10

Ceremonials - Florence + the Machine

This is all very melodramatic and theatrical. But I'm not saying that is a bad thing - I quite enjoy the drums from 1412 and the overall epic nature of almost every song. Only issue is it all really sounds the same; like I feel like this was just one big 95 minute song, with varying bits of quality. 95 minutes. That is just ridiculous. That is longer than Blazing Saddles. And there were much less fart jokes.

Highlights: Shake It Out, Breaking Down, Remain Nameless, No Light No Light

7/10 album 6/10 deluxe version

Challenge 4Da Change - Kinetic Flow

This is probably the first time I'm listening to this album; I don't know a whole lot, other than this is another Korean hip-hop group. It is mostly chill and pretty groovy. Also, one of these dudes has the weirdest voice - almost Muppet-like - so it makes it almost impossible to take them seriously. And considering I do not understand Korean and therefore have no idea what they are rapping about, that probably doesn't matter too much.

Highlights: The Night We Separated, Comics 2006, Peace 4da Kidz

6.5/10

Charango - Morcheeba

Definitely not as strong an album as Big Calm, but similar in vibes; chill out groovy London alternative pop with a side of electronic trip and other buzz words.

Highlights: Aqualung, Way Beyond

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 282

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 29

Brainwashed - George Harrison

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

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

7/10

Brand New By Tomorrow - Money Mark

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

Highlights: Pick Up the Pieces, Black Butterfly

6/10

Brand-New Idol Shit - BiSH

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

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

7/10

Brass Knuckles - Nelly

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

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

6/10

Break My Stride - Unique II

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

6/10

Break Out - The Pointer Sisters

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

Highlights: Jump, I'm So Excited

8/10

THE BREAKDOWN [Single] - Prince

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

7/10

Breakfast at Sweethearts - Cold Chisel

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

Highlights: Dresden, Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye)

6/10

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

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

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

9/10

Breakout - Miley Cyrus

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

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

6.5/10

Brick by Brick - Iggy Pop

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

8/10

Bricks Are Heavy - L7

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

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

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 242

Music Talk: Aqours

A brief introduction:

I was first introduced to the world of Love Live! through the second series idol group, Aqours. I had no idea what any of this "Love Live!" business was, but decided to go to some live concert experience at the cinema (a friend suggested I get out and try and meet people with similar interests. I quickly found idol otaku are not that). Anyways, after that, I went back to the beginning and watched the original series. It was great fun. So then I watched season 1 of the sequel, Love Live! Sunshine!! - I think season 2 had just started airing, perhaps? Anyways, my takeaway at the time was that Sunshine!! was the better show, but the original show had better music. I think on rewatch, my opinion of the shows reversed, so let's see what happens with the music - because if this is worse than μ's, I'm in for a hell of a day...

My collection is only their singles from 2015 to the end of 2017. Which is still 50 songs, surprisingly...

Maybe I'm just in a better mood today? Because so far, this is a barrel of fun! Like, it's all still cheesy and some songs are typical IDOL is SHiT, but I find their voices less annoying than μ's (sorry, Pile). I think what maybe swayed me earlier was that the good songs by μ's and SUPER good, whereas the good songs by Aqours are just mostly good. Except for the Opening/Closing songs - particularly 勇気はどこに？君の胸に！, which is actually amazeballs - I would really just say these songs are harmless fun pop songs. So where μ's have far more peaks, Aqours just kinds of hover around the middle.

I will probably be keeping half of these songs. Sure, I still won't listen to them around the house in fear of divorce, but when I need harmless total upbeat vibes, this could be a good go-to. Like, if I could delete the bad songs now, I'd probably give this all a re-listen on shuffle right about now.

Crazy times.

There are 4 more years of Aqours songs out there. And another 2 Love Live! series' that I haven't seen. I'm not quite sure I'm ready for that...

Music Talk: Buddy Holly and μ's

You know, I have the complete Buddy Holly recordings on vinyl, via some box set released in the 70's, AND on CD via Hip-O's release to mark the 50th anniversary of his death... yet, whenever I find myself listening to his works, I do a google search to make sure there isn't anything out there I'm missing.

Shows how awesome Buddy Holly was.

You know what isn't as awesome?
Idol music.

I decided to start some sort of cleanup in my iTunes library. This has been a long time coming; I have like 23,000 songs and I know there are a bunch I either have never listened to or don't want to listen to again. So I'm starting with my Japanese artists, as that's where most of my listening is these days. And at the start of that section is none other than μ's - the stars of that wonderful anime show, Love Live! School Idol Project. 

The show rules. And some of these songs are still awesome. But I've never actually sat through the full 77 song compilation I have in my iTunes.

Today I did.

Holy shit balls - some of this is pure and utter trash. Like, I don't like idol music at the worst of times. And this is surely the worst of them. Who the fuck writes this nonsense? And are they the same people that actually write the good songs?? Because μ's actually have some good songs. Otherwise, I would never have bothered going out of my way to download 77 of their fucking songs. And believe me, the good songs are SUPER good; NO BRAND GIRLS is the kind of pop-punk good times I would expect from PASSPO☆, 僕らは今のなかで invokes good feelings from the show, Wonderful Rush is just an all-round great song. So there are good parts.

And then there are hilarious moments like LOVELESS WORLD that make me think maybe I'm listening to Babymetal. I'm not. But that would probably suck, too.

Anyways, this has sure been an experience. As I've been listening, I've been giving the songs a score out of 10, with the idea that anything from a 5 or 6 will be saved, while everything else will be deleted. About halfway through I was hoping for it to be over and had only marked a third of the songs 5 or above. But then ooh I forgot that the end credits song from the 2nd season is the totally awesome feel good vibes of the Summer. That was a highlight.

Then everything just sounded like a collection of the same songs over and over; cheesy pop-ballads or weird songs with big techno beats, and all with the cheeriest girlie voices possible. But you know what? It was actually worthwhile; I finally ticked off these songs as being listened to, I can safely delete the ones I won't listen to every again, I reminded myself of the fun of some of these songs (looking at you, NO BRAND GIRLS) AND I actually discovered a few good songs in here that I'd never heard before:

So in total, of the 77 songs, 23 made the cut! And apparently there are another 50 songs they released? Wow! There's no way I am listening to all of those!

Love Live! needed more songs by Pile, because she's awesome. I should listen to more Pile. Instead, tomorrow I'm going to listen to all of the idol music from Love Live! Sunshine!!