2025 in 2025: Day 100

If I Can Dream EP - Elvis Presley

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

10/10

If I Die Tomorrow - Mötley Crüe

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

6/10

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

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

Highlights: To, Not, Be, Time, Then

7.5/10

III - Ryan Adams

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

Highlights: Wasteland, Stop Playing With My Heart, Users

7/10

III: Temples of Boom - Cypress Hill

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

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

7/10

Ill Communication - Beastie Boys

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

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

8.5/10

Ill Communication (2009 Remastered Edition) - Beastie Boys

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

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

7/10

Imagine - John Lennon

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

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

7.5/10

" Albums" listened to so far: 838

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2025 in 2025: Day 40

COMINATCHA!! - WANIMA

These guys are another one of those 'every song sounds the same' kind of band. And that rules, because this album is awesome. Big rowdy summer fun punk and ska good times in every song. Except for the one ballad on each album - which is also fantastic. 

Highlights: 夏のどこかへ, GONG, りんどう, Like a Fire

8/10

commune - YUKI

This is YUKI's second album and she is still in her post-grunge post-punk Beatles groove. It just isn't as strong as her debut album. Nothing outstanding or all that memorable, but definitely nothing bad.

Highlights: ハミングバード, ファンキー・フルーツ

6/10

The Complete '68 Comeback Special: The 40th Anniversary Edition - Elvis Presley

It is day 40 and we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the greatest television special recorded! I like the way that worked out. Even funnier knowing that I also have the 50th Anniversary Edition, but never bothered to import the extra disc that it contains. Because LOGMAN is a dork, sometimes. So this first disc is mostly just the original album. Which is the weakest part of the set; the mixes are kinda meh and there is crowd noise edited in between all the songs. Which just makes If I Can Dream sound super cheesy. Despite my complaints, it is still great a great album (especially the Gospel medley) and then it has some bonus tracks that are awesome; this version of It Hurts Me is powerful and I still can not understand why that segment has been cut from the home video version of the special. Let Yourself Go and A Little Less Conversation are super great songs. I really did not need another version of Memories - it is one of the worst songs Elvis recorded and a terrible sign of what was to come in the future. It is followed by the definitive version of the greatest song Elvis recorded. Elvis was all about peaks and valleys. Then we move on to Disc 2, which is the first of the 'Sit-Down' and 'Stand-Up' shows. I really enjoy the loose nature of the sit-down shows; it really just feels like a group of dudes jamming at home and reminiscing about about their younger days. Elvis was only 33 here, but had been in the business 13 years already! And Elvis clearly starts to really enjoy himself by the end of it. The 'Stand-Up' show is a different beast; big orchestra arrangements on all the old songs, Elvis all alone singing to backing tracks. I actually dig the arrangements on the 50s songs, but Elvis is clearly struggling to keep up on songs like Jailhouse Rock and he messes up hilariously in Blue Suede Shoes. The second 'Sit-Down' show is more of the same; feeling a bit more comfortable now, the guys just repeat some of the jokes that worked for the first crowd, Elvis messes up more songs and gets more unprofessional in the way only Elvis could get away with. The second 'Stand-Up' show is probably the stronger of the stand-up shows, if only slightly, as Elvis just continues to get more comfortable and just powers through the whole thing quickly, before reluctantly recording the Trouble/Guitar Man medley and then lip-sync to If I Can Dream. I'm very glad they never bothered using that in the final version of the special. And then, we are on to disc four; this is rehearsals, so not in exactly the best sound quality, but there a whole bunch of songs that they did not perform for the special. And the most interesting part is all the banter and just general tomfoolery of Elvis and his crew.

That's a big wall of text...

Highlights: Medley: Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head/Saved, If I Can Dream, It Hurts Me, That's All Right (First 'SIT-DOWN' show), Trying To Get To You (First 'SIT-DOWN' show), Don't Be Cruel (First 'STAND-UP' show), That's All Right (Second 'SIT-DOWN' show), Don't Be Cruel (Second 'STAND-UP' show)

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 333