2025 in 2025: Day 189

Young Americans - David Bowie

Bowie getting a bit funky and exploring his soul music influences. With some help from John Lennon. And a lot of saxomaphone.

Highlights: Fame, Young Americans, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Win

7/10

Young Man with the Big Beat - Elvis Presley

Oh, you thought we were done with Elvis box sets?!? This is purely his master recordings from 1956. Which is still 40 songs and over 90 minutes of awesomeness.

Highlights: One-Sided Love Affair, Trying to Get to You, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Rip It Up, Paralyzed, Don't Be Cruel

8/10

Young Man with the Big Beat: Live Performances - Elvis Presley

The Las Vegas performance is so fantastic; even as a young man, this dude never took any of this seriously - he keeps calling Heartbreak Hotel "Heartburn Motel", making jokes about the money his record label is making, and insulting all his own songs. The Louisiana Hayride stuff is a mixed bag - the performances are great and full of energy, but they were recorded off a radio in 1956 so the quality is about what you would expect.

Highlights: Long Tall Sally [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956], Money Honey [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956], Blue Suede Shoes [Live at Frontier Hotel, Las Vegas - May 6, 1956]

6/10

Your New Favourite Band - The Hives

Fast punk mayhem. The Hives when they were young were something else!

Highlights: Here We Go Again, The Hives Are Law You Are Crime, Fever

8/10

Yourself or Someone Like You - Matchbox Twenty

This is the most 90s radio rock sounding album since the 90s. Rob Thomas' voice is sooooo American, but he manages to convey a lot of emotion, which really carries the simplicity of the songs. 

Highlights: Long Day, Busted, Real World, Hang

8/10

YUKI "The Present" 2010.6.14,15 Bunkamura Orchard Hall - YUKI

This is somewhat interesting, because in true YUKI form she gives a few of the songs more of a jazz interpretation and also works them in to some little medleys. The whole is just a bit let down because her voice is nowhere near the awesome as it normally can be. And it is a bit long. But the setlist is fantastic!

Highlights: ハミングバード [Live], 恋愛模様 [Live], ティンカーベル [Live], Home Sweet Home [Live]

7/10

YUKI concert tour "SOUNDS OF TWENTY" 2022 9月19日 札幌・カナモトホール - YUKI

I was really hoping this version of 呪い would resemble the PRISMIC tour 2002 version, but I forgot that YUKI is ever-evolving. 

Highlights: 愛に生きて [Live], ヘイ! ユー! [Live], パレードが続くなら [Live]

7/10

YUKI concert tour "trance/forme" 2019 東京国際フォーラム ホールA - YUKI

This tour, for me (forme?), is YUKI at her vocal peak. And the reworking of some of these songs is just phenomenal. But bah gawd even on the fairly faithful performances, her vocals are just so much more than expected. And the end run of this is ALL THE FEELS. No cap: this version of はみだせ ラインダンスから is one of my all-time favourite songs (which is amazing, since the studio version is just kind of a song).

Highlights: はみだせ ラインダンスから [Live], フラッグを立てろ [Live], 鳴いてる怪獣 [Live], JOY [Live], 美しいわ [Live]

8.5/10

YUKI LIVE "little night music" 2023年9月16日 東京・Zepp DiverCity - YUKI

The last of my live YUKI albums and this one sure is a killer! I am glad I still at least have a few YUKI studio albums to come.

Highlights: タイムカプセル [Live], プレゼント [Live], ラスボス [Live], 忘れる唄 [Live]

8/10

Yume No Ukiyo Ni Saitemina [EP] - Momoiro Clover Z & Kiss

Such a perfect combination and it totally works, because MCZ do the whole heavy idol music thing at times and do it well (see my earlier words about their albums I have). 

Highlights: Yume No Ukiyo Ni Saitemina, Samurai Son

8/10

ZUTTO - BiSH

My girls ending the year of BiSH is OVER in a fairly appropriate way - one pop punk song and then a ballad. Not their peak or anything, but would have been a fine enough ending? Except they released another two singles after this. Milking it!

Highlights: ZUTTO, CALL ME AGAiN

8/10

・・・ - SAKANAMON

Japanese indie rock. Kinda quirky in parts, mostly pretty raucous and uptempo. 

Highlights: DAPPI, 反照, 凡庸リアライズ, STOPPER STEPPER

7.5/10

1:59PM - 2PM

Time for some classic K-Pop. It is fairly standard male idol quality stuff.

Highlights: My Heart, Heartbeat, I Was Crazy About You

7/10

Unfinished Music, No. 1: Two Virgins - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Ummmm what? Why is this album placed here? I would log in to my computer to figure out, but that died. Like my brain listening to this.

Highlights: Remember Love

Ummm/10

Unfinished Music, No. 2: Life with the Lions - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I promise you, the intro for Cambridge 1969 will always be entertaining to me; just having Yoko Ono introduce it so calmly, before launching into her trademark wails over a wall of feedback is a masterpiece of trolling. 

Highlights: Song For John

Ermmm/10

Wedding Album - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I would guess that under the "Sorting" field for these albums, it has a hash sign or something. Maybe an exclamation point - like a warning?

Highlights: Listen the Snow is Falling

Mmhmm/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1906

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2025 in 2025: Day 183

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z

A still young (maybe?) Hova full of fire and lewdness, but then he still is pretty lewd. This album has such a solid groove and goes pretty hard in parts. Surprisingly one of my favourite Jay-Z albums; not the overall brilliance of The Black Album, but real flashes of his genius.

Highlights: A Week Ago, Ni**a What, Ni**a Who (Originator 99), Can I Get A..., Money Ain't a Thang

8/10

Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter - Jay-Z

The first half is the less than impressive Hova I had expected. Then the second half - while nothing as exceptional as Vol. 2 - is way cooler and has much better grooves. Jay-Z flow and lyrical skills continue to be as awesome as ever throughout.

Highlights: Big Pimpin', Come and Get Me, There's Been a Murder, Hova Song (Outro)

7/10

Voulez-Vous - ABBA

The most disco of pop disco albums. A veritable party mixed with love ballads with a groove. Even tired old grumpy LOGMAN can not listen to this without eventually coming to life - If It Wasn't for the Nights is an absolute gem and Kisses of Fire is a good time forever!

Highlights: If It Wasn't for the Nights, Kisses of Fire, Voulez-Vous, Does Your Mother Know

9/10

Vs. - Pearl Jam

I really dig the way the guitars compliment each other on this album; Mike McCready and Stone Gossard rarely play the same parts and it gives the songs more dynamics. And these songs are full of passion and fire. A real product of the time, but still a gawdam awesome album that holds up well almost 35 years later.

Highlights: Rearviewmirror, Dissident, Go, W.M.A.

9/10

W is for What a Way to spend 2025

Waitin' For The Night - The Runaways

The first album with Joan Jett taking over as frontwoman and stuff is already a bit heavier. Because JJ does not mess around.

Highlights: Wasted, You're Too Possessive, Gotta Get Out Tonight, Don't Go Away

7/10

Waiting for the Sirens' Call - New Order

I was listening to this album with someone and they thought it was Manic Street Preachers... and I think that perfectly sums up this album. The whole thing is pretty standard Britpop and sounds more like a band influenced by New Order.

Highlights: Morning Night and Day, Waiting for the Sirens' Call, Turn, Guilt is a Useless Emotion

7/10

Waking Up The Neighbours - Bryan Adams

Like a less heavy Def Leppard album; the gang vocals and harmonies on this sound exactly like the Hysteria album, but this album has more cheese. I love BA and he absolutely killed it on this, but I think the album is a few songs too long - there are about 4 or 5 songs that sound WAY too similar, so if he eliminated a few of those it would be under an hour and be a lot tighter. Sometimes less is more.

Highlights: Don't Drop That Bomb On Me, Can't Stop This Thing We Started, Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven, Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya?

7.5/10

Walking Off the Buzz - Blessid Union of Souls

I only have one song - Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me). It is a lot of fun. Very typical 1999 pop radio rock kind of thing.

8/10

Walls and Bridges - John Lennon

Lennon doing way too much partying to keep caring about world peace, I guess. Instead, he chooses to get as middle of the road as possible - I get the feeling he was trying to get some hits or at least some radio time. 

Highlights: Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out), Steel and Glass, Whatever Gets You Through the Night, What You Got

7/10

War & Peace - Warren Peace

Well this thing is a mess. Some attempts at proper songs, but also some attempts at being a doucheburger. And, surprisingly, the latter is more successful. I am not sure why every song needed big messy noises to end them...

Highlights: Fire and Ice, Dear Diary

6/10

Warning! - Green Day

As fun as some of these songs are, they just sound like a bunch of earlier Green Day songs, just with acoustic guitar and keyboards and weak-sauce drumming. They really lost any remnants of their "edge" here. 

Highlights: Minority, Macy's Day Parade, Castaway, Church Sunday

7/10

WARP - JUDY AND MARY

The first half of this is EXTREME JAM craziness; a whole lot of noise and avant-garde "music". Then somewhere around the middle, YUKI decided to start practicing for her solo career and there is a massive shift towards pop hooks. Just covered in a layer of noise. I respect that their guitarist just never played sensible chords and treated these songs like a jazz jam session.

Highlights: motto, ガールフレンド, ひとつだけ -ver.WARP-, Brand New Wave Upper Ground

7/10

Waterline - Charlton Hill

I think the production on this album does it a great disservice; it is very much of the times and while that does work on a few songs, the rest get stuck in the mire of sounding very generic. It results in a lot of the songs lacking in emotion and just sounding dated. Which is a shame, because I know that underneath the songs actually have some soul.

Highlights: The Last Thing, Crash Landed, Turn To You, Deep

7/10

Waterloo - ABBA

Benny and Bjorn are working harder on this album - I do not recall them singing so many songs on any other album. It is ABBA. A good time is guaranteed.

Highlights: Waterloo, Honey Honey, Watch Out, Gonna Sing You My Lovesong

8/10

WAVE - YUKI

In some ways, this feels like YUKI's most straight-laced pop rock album. Apart from a couple of electro dance numbers. But overall, it really is a collection of great hooks over some simple chords. And that is a good thing - because it results in a some outstanding songs.

Highlights: 歓びの種, You've got a friend, あおぞら, ふがいないや

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1815

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2025 in 2025: Day 166

Some Time in New York City - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Controversial opinion: this is John Lennon's best solo album. Even more controversial opinion: Woman is the N**** of the World is a great song. Maybe using the N word so much was not his best idea, but it should not have been removed from the reissue. Which is a shame, because I was interested in hearing a full remix of this album. Anyways, the overt political nature of the album is what endears it to me. After this he had the FBI following him, Yoko left, and Lennon stopped being involved in anything that meant anything. 

Highlights: Angela, We're All Water, Woman is the N**** of the World, New York City

8/10

Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra) - Gotye

I have never known Gotye. But Kimbra is somebody that I met? She is very cool and an amazing artist - genuinely the best to come out of New Zealand in a VERY long time.

8/10

Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell

I sometimes wonder if there is any song more 80s than this. My immediate thoughts when I hear it are Tubbs miming along in a strip club and having the time of his life. I need to watch Miami Vice again...

9/10

Something to Be - Rob Thomas

I can actually understand why this did not get released as Matchbox Twenty - even though I believe he is the chief songwriter for the group, this sounds far more pop radio with heavy influences from somewhere. I hesitate to say R&B, but there is something quite unlike the usual pop rock that would get from his pop rock band. And, honestly, it works.

Highlights: This is How a Heart Breaks, Something to Be, Streetcorner Symphony, Problem Girl

7/10

Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit - Courtney Barnett

I have never heard a woman "sing" in such a monotone fashion - it is almost spoken word, except some of it is kind of shouting? This may be the most Australian album ever.

Highlights: I did enjoy the references to Melbourne

4/10

Somewhere in England - George Harrison

I think this album is the one where his record company rejected half of it and made him replace a bunch of songs. I am not sure they made the right call. The only real noteworthy aspect here is the song featuring the surviving Beatles in remembrance of the recently murdered John Lennon.

Highlights: All Those Years Ago, Teardrops, Save the World

6.5/10

Song Destroyer - DJ Reggie

More of this? In fairness, it actually randomly features an instrumental piece that I am fairly certain is on an actual Ryan Adams & The Cardinals song in part. I am not sure what it is doing between a rap about going to a Rascal Flatts concert and a rap about... I do not even know.

Highlights: Moonlighting

4/10

A Song for ×× - Ayumi Hamasaki

I may choose to ignore how terrible Ayu's voice is on this album. Instead we can focus on how horribly dated the music sounds - it does not even sound like it is from 1999, more like 1989. But, that does mean the guitar riffs sound like they are from 1989, and thus are awesome? Because that is what saves this album; despite the production being outdated, the music of the whole thing is actually really great. Which is why I would have been on board for a full re-recording in like 2005-2010 when Ayu's voice was awesome. And, thus, some of the live versions of the title track are genuinely more definitive.

Highlights: Depend on you, A Song for ××, FRIEND II, For My Dear...

7/10

Songs - Regina Spektor

Her first couple of albums were just her on a piano, basically doing hipster rap over little piano licks. It runs that line between 'is it actually clever or is it just a hipster being satirical about what people think is clever songwriting?'

Highlights: Consequence of Sounds

5/10

Songs About Jane - Maroon 5

This album is such a far cry from what they do now - much more in a funk rock kind of vibe. Songs like Harder to Breathe and This Love were kind of a little off the curve at the time. And I probably did not appreciate how great a singer Adam Levine is. 

Highlights: Harder to Breathe, This Love, She Will Be Loved

7/10

Songs From the Big Chair - Tears For Fears

I only have a couple of songs from this album. Especially embarrassing, considering this has been issued in deluxe editions multiple times.

Highlights: Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels

9/10

Songs in the Attic - Billy Joel

How many live albums does this man need? I would guess this is in New York, because he gets a big pop any time he mentions anything relating to that. 

Highlights: Captain Jack, Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

6.5/10

Songs of a Lost World - The Cure

Returning after forever with the most Cure sounding album possible was not on my bingo card for 2024. Because I do not play bingo. I do, however play The Cure albums and vibe out to the sprawling intros and how this album truly works as one piece of art.

Highlights: Endsong, Alone, Drone:Nodrone, All I Ever Am

8/10

Songs to Learn & Sing - Echo & The Bunnymen

I only have the song The Killing Moon. I do not know if I have even heard another song by this band - this was purely because I had been watching Donnie Darko. I should watch that again.

7.5/10

The Sorrowjoy - Heather Nova

Another solo track; it is a spoken-word album that I was never able to track down on CD, but she released this song, The Singing State, for free somewhere some time...

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1565

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2025 in 2025: Day 163

It is "singles" day here in casa de LOGMAN (aka my headphones).

The Singles - Basement Jaxx

I am someone that really only knows the hits, because they were quite popular back in the day. So having a compilation of those and some other songs I do not really know suits me fine. Generally good stuff to get your party in your head going.

Highlights: Romeo, Where's Your Head At, Red Alert, Plug It In

7/10

Singles (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Various Artists

I really need to get the re-release of this one day, because it features all the cool instrumental stuff by Chris Cornell and Paul Westerberg. As it is in its original format, it is the perfect time capsule of the start of the grunge period and that whole Seattle music scene. Except Smashing Pumpkins are very much not from Seattle. Neither is Paul Westerberg. What a joke!

Highlights: Seasons - Chris Cornell, Breath - Pearl Jam, Waiting For Somebody - Paul Westerberg, State of Love and Trust - Pearl Jam

9/10

Singles - John Lennon

A little compilation of non-album tracks, mostly covering the first couple of years of Lennon going solo. Most were hits. Most are awesome. Only one of them is not a statement of everything he stood for at the time.

Highlights: Power to the People, Instant Karma (We All Shine On), Move Over Ms. L, Give Peace a Chance

9/10

The Singles - ABBA

Like the Lennon disc, this is the bonus as part of the original box set. The disco tracks are pretty darn awesome. And if you need their original hits sung in Swedish, then you are in for real treat here!

Highlights: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), Under Attack, Summer Night City, Medley: Pick a Bale of Cotton/On Top of Old Smokie/Midnight Special

7/10

Singles - Mötley Crüe

This is just the song Sex. It rocks, but I do not know why I have this song on its own when I could lump with other random Mötley Crüe songs.

8/10

Singles - Travis

And this is just the song Turn. It is the only song by Travis I like, but I like it so much it probably equates to enjoying their entire discography. Which is like 3 other songs?

9/10

The Singles 1992-2003 - No Doubt

Lordy, I am not a fan of this band either. Yet, somehow, I ended up with two songs in my library - Hella Good and Spiderwebs. The former actually makes a lot of sense, because it has some big 80s synth.

8/10

The Singles Box - Alanis Morissette

A whole bunch of live songs from a time when Alanis was not so great live. Well, the acoustic versions are pretty fine, but when she is with a band it all just falls apart. And for once I will not blame Taylor Hawkins.

Highlights: Hand In My Pocket (Live From Brisbane), You Oughta Know (Live From The Grammy's)

5/10

Singles Mixes - Queen

Another of my own compilations from the reissues and box sets. Like my own version of Greatest Hits, because it is always fun to have shorter versions of awesome songs, I guess? I Want It All honestly loses so much.

Highlights: Flash [Single Version], Flash [Single Version], It's Late [USA Radio Edit], One Vision [Single Version]

8.5/10

The Singles, Volume 3: 1964-1965 - James Brown

Hilarious that I skipped Volumes 1 & 2; that would be because I tried to capture mostly James Brown's funk, instead of his early soul stuff. I like the funk. It takes about half the collection, but the early funk is here and it feels good. 

Highlights: Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, I Got You (I Feel Good), Out of Sight, Think

7/10

The Singles, Volume 4: 1966-1967 - James Brown

More soul and a lot more funk. By then end of this one, he is getting some hard funk on the one! One day I will have to complete this series. But thank Prime I did not do that before this marathon!

Highlights: Cold Sweat (Part 1), Get It Together (Part 1), Bring It Up, James Brown's Boo-Ga-Loo

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1520

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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

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2025 in 2025: Day 150

Random Access Memories - Daft Punk

Lots of funky disco guitar vocoder and classic Daft Punk vibes. But also Pharrell, and I do not like Pharrell. It really is like these guys were somewhat burned out and brought in a bunch of other people to help them make a real chill out kind of album instead of their usual full on disco awesome.

Highlights: Give Life Back to Music, Lose Yourself to Dance, Contact, Doin' It Right

7/10

Rap Attack - Various Artists

This is the classic hip-hop collaboration song Self Destruction, featuring old school kings like KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, Heavy D and Public Enemy. Good times.

8/10

Rare Masters - Elton John

Old soundtrack songs, early recordings, some Xmas songs, a couple of demos here and there, and a few live tracks - including one with John Lennon. Which is likely why I have this. When I fail to listen to everything before year's end, pointless massive collections like this will be to blame!

Highlights: I Saw Her Standing There [Live], Step Into Christmas, Lady Samantha, Bad Side of the Moon, Sick City

6/10

Rarities - Kinky

Mostly remixes of early Kinky songs. None of them are as good as the originals, obviously, but I can see the appeal. Kinky have such an electronic thing going on at times and this really leans in to that - and it sort of sets up where they were heading from here.

Highlights: Oye Como Va (Extended Mix), Five Rooms

6/10

Rarities - Spice Girls

From the brightest corners of the internet I was able to find these songs; a couple of promo tracks, a couple of demos and then some remixes. I would say there is nothing overly indispensable here... but it is the Spice Girls. I just wish it were all good quality. I take what I can get...

Highlights: My Strongest Suit, Megamix

6/10

Rarities 1977-79 - The Cure

And so it begins... Early demos, a few random singles and even more live songs that sound like they were recorded in the bathroom of a dirty pub. Some of the studio demos are actually pretty good - I would venture to say this is the best version of I'm Cold - but I am not sure I needed to hear Robert Smith recording songs on his parents' organ. Well, LOGMAN, get ready for many more hours of that!

Highlights: Boys Don't Cry, I'm Cold [Sav Studio Demo], Jumping Someone Else's Train

5.5/10

Rarities 1979-80 - The Cure

This disc is genuinely worth it for the Cult Hero collaboration. All more listenable than the previous disc, but then I never thought much of Three Imaginary Boys anyways.

Highlights: I'm a Cult Hero, I Dig You

6/10

Rarities 1980-81 - The Cure

Poorly recorded home instrumental demos, studio guide tracks, and random live songs. The live stuff is surprisingly decent. And then all topped off with a couple of rare songs.

Highlights: Charlotte Sometimes, Forever [Live Somewhere Summer 1981]

6/10

Rarities 1981-82 - The Cure

What was that? More of the instrumental demos, studio guide tracks and random live songs? At least Robert Smith was consistent in the way he compiled these. The demos all sound much less dark and twisted - just maybe a little dark and bored. Props to Smith for just developing Temptation Two into becoming Let's Go To Bed - I would have just wrote them and recorded them as two completely different songs, because they barely sound similar and I am lazy.

Highlights: All Mine [Live], Temptation Two (Aka LGTB) [RS Studio Demo], A Short Term Effect [Live]

6/10

Rarities 1982-84 - The Cure

The demos for this album are not really so far removed from the finished product, since it was basically a Robert Smith solo album anyway. Just a bit more polished and more vocals. The live songs are decent enough for audience recordings.

Highlights: The Top [Live], Forever [Live]

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1370

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2025 in 2025: Day 125

mimosa - Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayu's most recent single. Nothing groundbreaking, but very good. Still Ayu.

8/10

Mind Games - John Lennon

This albums is very low key, but lyrically still very protesty and freedom for the people. Just less angsty than Sometime in New York City. Almost like Lennon is tired and his energy a bit drained since the last album flopped. And he was drinking and partying a lot. Probably that. 

Highlights: Mind Games, I Know (I Know), Meat City, Out of the Blue

7/10

Minor Earth Major Sky - a-ha

Interesting how these guys always seemed to grow and adapt their sound to be more in step with what was happening in pop music; this certainly sounds like something from around 2000, without sounding too terrible. 

Highlights: Velvet, The Sun Never Shone That Day, Barely Hanging On

6.5/10

Holy moly we are just following up yesterday hilariously well!

Minutes to Midnight - Linkin Park

Not a lot of Mike Shinoda on this one. And the album is boring. Coincidence? Musically, it does have good moments. It is just having it all rely on Chester Bennington do his thing just does not give the songs any dynamics. The proof is in the only two songs that feature Shinoda doing his thing, too, and they are easily the best songs on the album.

Highlights: Bleed It Out, Shadow of the Day, What I've Done

6/10

The Miracle - Queen

This album has it all; dance bops, simple pop, ballads, synth bass, computer drums... and in there are two of their biggest straight rock songs ever. Brian May's tone on this album is absolute perfection. I do have the box set and am looking forward to listening to the various outtakes and what not - I have already heard the version of Breakthru on there with the real drums and bass and it sounds awesome - but I still have like 900 albums in here to get through... so maybe in 2026...

Highlights: I Want It All, Was It All Worth It, Breakthru, The Miracle

8.5/10

Miracle Driving - JUDY AND MARY

Fairly standard JAM offering, though much less punk than usual. But still enjoyable.

Highlights: Miracle Night Driving, Kyoto, Platinum, ステレオぜんかい

7/10

A Mirage in the Sun - MONOEYES

I was going to say something about this being their weakest album, but it really is not. Or all their albums are great and I just sometimes pretend otherwise? The end three songs here are absolute perfection - like the ending of a PASSPO☆ album. These dudes actually released a new album a couple of weeks ago. Shame I will have to wait three more months to check it out...

Highlights: 明日公園で, Wish it Was Snowing Out, Remember Me, グラニート

8/10

MIRROR - SCANDAL

While I do miss the angsty punk vibes from their previous couple of albums, the newfound creativity on display throughout this album more than makes up for it. I should learn some of these riffs for the next time I get to demo Mami's signature strat. That thing is art!

Highlights: MIRROR, eternal, 彼女はWave, アイボリー

8/10

Mirrorball - Sarah McLachlan

For those keeping score at home, this makes THREE live albums from Sarah McLachlan in my collection. Insert a gif of Tim Robinson saying "What the hell?" from I Think You Should Leave here. In fairness, the previous two were EPs and this is a full on long album. And it is long. And it is very good. The songs generally have a bit of an extra kick going on, although I am not sure any of them needed shredding guitar solos.

Highlights: Sweet Surrender, Ice Cream, Wait, Do What You Have to Do

7/10

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill

Ms. Hill gets a lot of flack, but she also gets away with a lot. A LOT. People give her more leeway than she probably deserves, but the reason for that is this album is a gawdam masterpiece. Two parts hip-hop, two parts R&B, one part reggae, one part gospel, three parts soul. All parts brilliant.

Highlights: Ex-Factor, Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing), Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

9/10

Miss-E... So Addictive - Missy Elliott

Oooh yeah we are just hitting all my hip-hop bumps today! This may not be Missy's best work, but there are still some killer tracks. This is her and Timberland starting to find their groove between between making artsy creative hip-hop and getting some hooks. Missy's rhymes are badass, though. And she sure does not have patience for fools. 

Highlights: Get Ur Freak On, One Minute Man (Remix), Dog in Heat, Old School Joint, Step Off

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1099

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2025 in 2025: Day 124

Memorial Address - Ayumi Hamasaki

Could this EP be any more Ayu? It just needs one of her angry heavy Linkin Park style tracks, otherwise it has everything else you would expect; fun pop, funky grooves, big rock ballads. Absolutely awesome.

Highlights: Memorial Address, HANABI ～episode II～, ourselves

9/10

Memorial Beach - a-ha

I hesitate to use the word dark here, but this is more artsy and blues-rock than their previous work. Like, they've clearly been listening to some grunge, but it has not totally overtaken their complete sound. And it really works for me! This album makes me appreciate their all-around musicianship.

Highlights: Move to Memphis, Cold as Stone, Between Your Mama and Yourself, Lie Down in the Darkness

7/10

Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey

Ms. Carey could sing to me the full screenplay of Avatar and the ingredients of a tin of baked beans and I am sure I would sit there all doe-eyed. Merry Christmas!

Highlights: All I Want for Christmas is You

6.5/10

Messin' with the Boys - Cherie & Marie Currie

I did briefly mention The Currie sisters many years ago. The performance in that video is the stuff! This album is so far removed from The Runaways - like a Peter Criss album is to a Kiss album. The reissue is certainly overkill and unnecessary. The world does not need 1288 versions of Cherry Bomb!

Highlights: Since You've Been Gone, Messin' with the Boys, Elaine, This Time

7/10 for the original album, 6/10 for the reissue

Meteora - Linkin Park

Sometimes you just feel like a bit of angry LP doing the angry LP thing. There is something comforting about it, I think. Any album where Mike Shinoda raps lots gets my approval. More on that tomorrow...

Highlights: Lying from You, Nobody's Listening, Numb, Figure.09

7.5/10

Midnite Vultures - Beck

Weird noises, silly lyrics, some funky basslines and the occasional actual hooks. I can appreciate his attempt to make a silly Prince album - and in parts it totally works. But, like, I have Prince. And Flight of the Conchords doing silly Prince.

Highlights: Milk & Honey, Mixed Bizness, Debra, Sexx Laws

6/10

Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics

This is only the song All I Need is a Miracle. It is some sort of 80s staple.

7/10

Milk and Honey - John Lennon/Yoko Ono

If ever an album out there needed to be re-recorded it would be this. Normally I am somewhat against that sort of thing, but in this case I wholeheartedly support it. Hell, bring in McCartney if you must and have him record some backing vocals; the songs being unfinished means Lennon's vocal performances are less than what he was aiming for. There are some pretty decent songs here. They just needed to be... finished.

Highlights: Nobody Told Me, I'm Stepping Out, Grow Old with Me

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1088

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2025 in 2025: Day 115

Live EP - Sarah McLachlan
How do I have two live releases from Sarah McLachlan? This one is with a full band. And is from earlier in her career. It is quite good.
Highlights: Home, Lost
6.5/10

Live Era '87-'93 - Guns N' Roses
There is just not enough of the earlier era here to make this album worth spending two and a half hours listening to, for me. Like, it starts off very strong, but then the Use Your Illusion tour stuff is pretty obvious because Axl's singing is terrible and Slash's guitar solos are sloppy. Duff is, however, a total badass throughout. That man rocks. 
Highlights: Nightrain, Mr. Brownstone, Welcome to the Jungle, It's Alright, Rocket Queen
6/10

Live From Nowhere - Ryan Adams
This appears to be just a couple of random live acoustic numbers - namely Shine Through the Dark and Wasted Years. I actually dig what he did with that Iron Maiden song. How do I not have any Iron Maiden in my collection anymore?
7/10

Live From The River of Dreams Tour '93-'94 - Billy Joel
Just some quick highlights from the tour, I guess. Bonus disc in the River of Dreams album. Songs from that album and a couple of covers. In fact, I think I may even have a DVD from this tour? Joel's voice is pretty darn rockin' on this.
Highlights: No Man's Land, The River of Dreams
7/10

Live in Auckland, New Zealand 3/12/80 - Kiss
Album #1000! I have this recording for posterity; so I can say I have at least heard every Kiss concert in Auckland (I have attended every other one, because LOGMAN rules). And actually it is pretty decent; very much atypical of a Kiss concert on this tour. It is not a patch on something like Alive!, but that is because it is a proper live recording and not touched up in the studio. Which is fun. Spoiler alert: when Paul Stanley said they were "definitely coming back next year", he was lying.
Highlights: Shandi, Is That You?, Talk to Me, Calling Doctor Love
7/10

Live In Detroit 30/11/82 - Prince
This has got to be one of the earliest Prince concerts out there, right? And it is super awesome. I absolutely love the way he plays up the ending of How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? I would ask his estate for more of this sort of thing, but I would be lucky if they could even release another... anything!
Highlights: How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?, 1999, Controversy, Do Me Baby
8/10

Live in Eindhoven 2011 - Heather Nova
This was like a free download for pre-ordering her album or something? I do not recall if I have ever really given it a solid listen, because I would have remembered that is very good. Much better than I expected. Which makes no sense, considering Heather Nova is great. I think maybe I thought this was mostly acoustic, but it is a full band show. And the guitarist does his best David Ayers impersonation. 
Highlights: Heart and Shoulder, Island, All I Need, Beautiful Ride
7/10

Live in Japan - George Harrison
Really, it is George Harrison and Eric Clapton. But it is nice that it was just released under Harrison's name, so I do not have to have 'official' Clapton in my library. It is a pretty solid recording, overall. No nonsense and just straight rock'n roll - pretty much what you would expect. A decent mix of solo and songs from his time in The Beatles. And Clapton is best served as a sideman like this.
Highlights: I Want to Tell You, Isn't It a Pity, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Cheer Down
7/10

Live in Japan - The Runaways
I think I have mentioned this album previously; I thought it was nothing special, but now I love it. Totally rocks hard. And Gettin' Hot is such a totally badass song I do not understand why this is the only version of it out there.
Highlights: Gettin' Hot, Queens of Noise, American Nights, C'mon
7.5/10

Live in New York City - John Lennon
Look, we all know how I feel about Yoko and John Ono Lennon. And even I would be ready to throw this album in the 'who cares?' pile. But seeing as they have finally remixed it and whatnot BUT are pretending Woman is the Nigger of the World does not exist, so this album is the only way to hear it live... well, I guess it become a lot more worthwhile having it in the collection. But the performances on Anthology are better.
Highlights: Well Well Well, Instant Karma!
6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1005

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2025 in 2025: Day 104

Jar of Flies - Alice in Chains

Bah gawd that solo in Nutshell is the perfect amount of feel. These guys had a real knack for mixing chill acoustic vibes with angry grunge-metal attitude. This was more of the former and it is some of their best work.

Highlights: Nutshell, No Excuses, I Stay Away, Rotten Apple

8/10

The Jasmine Flower - Heather Nova

Continuing with my acoustic-themed start to the day, here is Ms. Nova giving a big dose of purely acoustic numbers, with the occasional cello thrown in to make it a bit more depressing. It ends with an original Xmas song? Which at least has some drums and keyboards, so things end on a bit of lift.

Highlights: Out On a Limb, Say Something, Always Christmas
6/10

Jazz - Queen

Freddie Mercury does not like Star Wars? I knew there was a reason I always loved Queen! You know, I have this mindset that this is like the worst Queen album. Always have since I was young. But when I actually listen to it... it really is not that bad. There are some killer tracks on it and there is some serious fun to be had.

Highlights: Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race, Dead on Time, Don't Stop Me Now

8/10

JEJEJEJET!! - PASSPO☆

I am not going to re-read my previous bLog about this album, but you should. Because this album is fantastic. Although I do wish I had my old spreadsheet from the PASSPO☆ marathon so I could check if I am just throwing about 5 star ratings without prejudice nowadays. The last two songs are about as perfect as anyone could ask for. I want to put them on repeat!

Highlights: Growing Up (Album ver.), 「I」, サクラ小町, BEAST IN YOU, 気分はサイコー! サイコー! サイコー!

8/10

Jewel Vox - Pile

My fav character from Love Live!'s voice actor - and the genuinely best singer of the show - makes her debut away from the terrible idol of μ's. And this is mostly generic anime-style music. Which is fine? I mean, Psychic Lover are one of my all-time favourite bands and their whole deal is making anime music. Just not at all generic. Just you wait until I get to the P albums... 

Highlights: Black Butterfly, Furuwasaete, ⇒ NEXT WORLD ⇒, いつかキミに届ける世界

6.5/10

Jewels: Alternate Takes - Queen

I ended up with so many extra tracks from the Queen reissues that I had to break them down to their own little albums. Much better than having 15 random EPs. Except I really had no idea how I was grouping them for the most part. I will probably adjust them at some point. I genuinely prefer the original b-side version of My Life Has Been Saved - feels like it has a bit more drive than what they did to it for Made in Heaven. 

Highlights: Keep Yourself Alive [Long-Lost Retake, June 1975], Don't Stop Me Now [With Long Lost Guitars], My Life Has Been Saved [1989 B-Side Version], Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) [HD Mix]

8/10

Jewels: De Lane Lea Demos - Queen

These do not sound too far removed from the final studio versions. Except the drums sound better? While everything else sounds a bit worse? Or maybe that is just the quality of the tapes. Let us see what I have to say when I hear the Queen I version of this!

Highlights: Jesus, The Night Comes Down

7/10

Jewels: Instrumentals - Queen

Great songs, just minus the main vocals. Do not fret: those epic layers of harmonies are still there, sometimes. It does make you appreciate the little bits in the music that you do not normally hear (plus these are likely modern remixes, so not exact replicas).

Highlights: Tie Your Mother Down [Backing Track], Seven Seas of Rhye [Instrumental], Chinese Torture, Spread Your Wings [Instrumental]

6.5/10

Joanne - Lady Gaga

There are a few bright spots, naturally, but otherwise this is the most uninspired and derivative material Gaga has released. An album so mediocre I do not think I have listened to anything she has released since.

Highlights: Million Reasons, Diamond Heart, Grigio Girls, Hey Girl

6/10

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon

This should probably just be called Plastic Ono Band, no? The most public therapy session. I also appreciate that the whole album just has three types of songs; grunge/shuffle, piano ballady, and acoustic minimalism. And all of them involve Lennon just putting everything in to them. 

Highlights: Mother, God, My Mummy's Dead, Hold On, I Found Out

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 897

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2025 in 2025: Day 100

If I Can Dream EP - Elvis Presley

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

10/10

If I Die Tomorrow - Mötley Crüe

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

6/10

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

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

Highlights: To, Not, Be, Time, Then

7.5/10

III - Ryan Adams

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

Highlights: Wasteland, Stop Playing With My Heart, Users

7/10

III: Temples of Boom - Cypress Hill

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

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

7/10

Ill Communication - Beastie Boys

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

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

8.5/10

Ill Communication (2009 Remastered Edition) - Beastie Boys

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

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

7/10

Imagine - John Lennon

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

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

7.5/10

" Albums" listened to so far: 838

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2025 in 2025: Day 96

Home Tapes - John Lennon

Outtakes and home recordings and demos. The outtakes are very similar to the final released tracks - except God here is just a ripper of an acoustic number. I Found Out has some pretty different vocal layers going on.

Highlights: God [Studio Outtake], Mother [Studio Outtake], Nobody Told Me [Home Recording]

6.5/10

Homework - Daft Punk

I like Daft Punk as much as anyone, but for the most part this album really does sound like the most typical European 90s techno-funk. It did not grab me in 1997 and it does not do much for me now. So maybe I do not like Daft Punk as much as anyone? That kick in Da Funk is all sorts of cowabunga.

Highlights: Da Funk, Rollin' & Scratchin', High Fidelity, Indo Silvery Club, Alive

6.5/10

HONEY - SCANDAL

Fun fact: this album was my introduction to SCANDAL. I saw pictures of Haruna's signature Telecaster and it looked so good I figured I should check out the artist related to it. Now I really want Mami's 'Omochi' Stratocaster. Not to be outdone, Tomomi's bass tone on this album is fire. If they do a third Fender collaboration, I hope they give her an awesome signature bass and then I would complete the lineup!

Highlights: Over, 窓を開けたら, 恋するユニバース, ふたり

8.5/10

Honeymoon - Lana Del Rey

I am going to write this before even making it through the first song: this album is long and boring. I will update at the end if listening to this full album again changes my mind. Nope; an hour later I found one very good song amongst a sea of nothingness.

Highlights: The Blackest Day

5/10

Honky Chateau - Elton John

I am often embarrassed at how much my Elton John collection is lacking. Well, the CD section of it; my vinyl section is pretty solid. Like this album; it is nothing special, but is pretty solid. What is Bernie Taupin's obsession with Americana?!?

Highlights: Susie (Dramas), Rocket Man, Mellow, I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself

7.5/10

Hooray for Boobies - The Bloodhound Gang

This is purely the song Mope, because I generally do not care for this band. But they managed to combine a whole bunch of 80s pop samples and this is the best Metallica have ever sounded.

8/10

Hopes and Fears - Keane

Someone please tell Apple what punk music is - because Keane sure ain't it. It is all fine and dandy, but some of these songs are sure repetitive. 

Highlights: Somewhere Only We Know, Bend and Break, Everybody's Changing, Bedshaped

6.5/10

Hot Fuss - The Killers

This was my album of the year in 2004. I still consider it one of the most awesome debut albums ever. And Jenny Was a Friend of Mine is the most awesome opener. Brandon Flowers had such a great voice on this album - screamed at just right the amount for me - and it just got worse with each subsequent album. But boy oh boy was this a great reminder that they did once live up to their name.

Highlights: Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I've Done, Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll, Believe Me Natalie

9/10

Hot in the Shade - Kiss

I'm running out of nonsense to say, so just read my Kissathon post about this one. I somewhat agree with it today...

Highlights: Hide Your Heart, Forever, Silver Spoon, Little Caesar

7/10

Hot Sauce Committee Part Two - Beastie Boys

I would like to hear the real part two one day, but obviously that will never happen and this will forever stand as the last release the Beastie Boys ever do. At least it was a banger of an album to go out on. Just so much badass rhymes over creative beats and then one old school hardcore punk jam. 

Highlights: Too Many Rappers, Lee Majors Come Again, The Lisa Lisa/Full Force Routine, Ok

8/10

Hot Space - Queen

The anomaly in the Queen discography. The live versions are definitely better, but it is not nearly as bad as some people would have you believe - there is still some charm to some of these songs. And good grooves.

Highlights: Dancer, Under Pressure, Staying Power, Action This Day

7/10

Hotel Paper - Michelle Branch

This is just the single Breathe. I seem to recall there being another big single from this album. I really should check out the whole thing one day.

10/10

Hotter Than Hell - Kiss

This album still sounds as terrible as ever. One day I am going to get the 2014 iTunes version, because it does sound marginally better. My how I wish I had already got that for this listen. Still surprised we did not get a massive super deluxe banana edition of this and first album for the 50th anniversaries.

Highlights: Got to Choose, Parasite, Hotter Than Hell, All the Way, Comin' Home

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 800

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2025 in 2025: Day 58

Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars

Hikola: Bruno Mars is great!

LOGMAN: Yeah, he's the man!

Hikola: *checks my iTunes to put on some Bruno Mars* Ummm you only have 1 song of his? And you're telling me he's the man?

LOGMAN: Yeah, he's the man!

Hikola: You have so much rubbish on here that you hate, yet this guy is "the man" and you only have 1 song??

LOGMAN: Yeah, he's the man!

Hikola: Get some more Bruno Mars, would you?!?

LOGMAN: Yeah, he's the man!

10/10

Dookie - Green Day

Kids these days with this sanitised version of Green Day don't know what it was like in 1994 to hear Basketcase for the first time. Or get this album and realise that pop-punk is the future. I used to busk like 90% of this album. And listening to this now makes me really appreciate how much I just made up half the lyrics to some of these songs. Also, my friends in 1994 thought I was dumb for liking this album. Then When I Come Around hit the radio and everyone wanted to borrow my CD. It's tough being more awesome than everyone else...

Highlights: Lowlights might be easier?

9.5/10

Doolittle - Pixies

Are these cats like the godfathers of grunge or something? This album is hilarious; for every great song, there is an almost unlistenable few minutes of dirge that barely resembles a song. No. 13 Baby is not in fact the child of ELLEGARDEN's No. 13. Non-pretentious non-grunge LOGMAN is less than impressed.

Highlights: Debaser, Wave of Mutilation, Here Comes Your Man, Monkey Gone to Heaven

5/10

Dopamine - Third Eye Blind

When this came out, like most Third Eye Blind, I listened a lot. A LOT. So much, in fact, that two songs from it are still in my Top 25 Most Played playlist - and that is without listening to the album since 2017. Seriously. I have actively avoided it for five years now. Everything Is Easy sounds like The Cure musically. In fact, I would argue that this whole album is heavily influenced by both 80s New Wave and the music of 2015 - which also heavily borrowed from 80s New Wave. Here's to another five years...

Highlights: Shipboard Cook, Back to Zero, Something in You, Get Me out of Here, Say It

9/10

Double Fantasy - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

The contrast on this album is made less obvious by having John and Yoko trade songs. And that is one reason the album works - if they had done something like Side A = John, Side B = Yoko, it would have been one side of standard rock'n roll and then one side of provocative new wave. But mixing them together actually makes it more cohesive, to me. One day I will check out the Stripped version of this album. One day...

Highlights: Watching the Wheels, Cleanup Time, Woman, Hard Times Are Over

7/10

Double Happiness - Jimmy Barnes

This is Barnesy doing duets with a bunch of Australian artists I do not know. And a few I do. Like The Living End - that is a great combo! Bah gawd I will always get chills when Jimmy Barnes screams those crazy high notes, like on What Will They Say. The man is a true one-of-a-kind. Even when doing hip-hop.

Highlights: What Will They Say, Gonna Take Some Time, Resurrection Shuffle, Higher

7/10

Double Platinum - Kiss

Oh, this album again! Kiss trying to make things more interesting, but just making things silly?

Highlights: Strutter '78, Calling Dr. Love, Rock Bottom (Intro)/She

8/10

Down To The Promised Land: 5 Years of Bloodshot Records - Various Artists

This is purely Monday Night by Ryan Adams. It is a very good song!

9/10

Down With The King - Run-D.M.C.

The Kings are back! With some proper hip-hop guests like Pete Rock and A Tribe Called Quest and Onyx. And even Tom Morello! And some disses at MC Hammer. Come on, guys - can't we all just get along? Run even says that exact line on In The House, so why is he starting trouble with a fellow man of god? This whole album hits HARD and it is glorious.

Highlights: Down With The King, Come On Everybody, Can I Get It Yo, Ooh Watcha Gonna Do, In the House, Get Open, Wreck Shop

9/10

Dr. Dolittle 2: Original Soundtrack - Various Artists

Of course this is not the whole thing - simply Do U Wanna Roll (Dolittle Theme) by Snoop Dogg, R.L. and Lil' Kim. This is one of the coolest singles Snoop Dogg has done since Doggystyle. It is at least better than anything he did at WrestleMania?

8/10

Dr. Feelgood - Mötley Crüe
This album is the business. The title track is just badass. Slice of Your Pie is also fairly badass. Complete with an outro from The Beatles and Bryan Adams singing backing vocals. Seriously. Reminds me of when Kiss enlisted his help to make their most rocking album after making some dire stuff on their own. BRYAN ADAMS IS THE FIXER! Man, the production on this album is just off the charts. Kickstart My Heart may well be the greatest 80's rock song of the 80's. I've always liked Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.), but I probably liked it more when I was younger and had no idea what was going on with the lyrics - now it just seems like some adolescent male fantasy. Sticky Sweet is kinda more of the same. And while She Goes Down just continues that lyrically, musically it is just so badass I don't care. Then we finish things off with another couple of power ballads - Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away) and Time For Change. Peak Crüe, right here.
Highlights: The Whole Damn Thing

10/10

Draw The Line - Aerosmith

Wasn't I just lamenting the fact that I have not had much Aerosmith come up? Well, looks like I spoke too soon, or something, because here is some more 70s Aerosmith in my face. It is fairly standard 70s Aerosmith. Which is fun.

Highlights: I Wanna Know Why, Get It Up, Bright Light Fright, Sight for Sore Eyes

7/10

Dream Days at the Hotel Existence - Powderfinger

This is one of those albums where I have no explanation as to how or why I have it. Some of their songs can rock pretty well and definitely show some of that fire, but the ballads are pretty meh, to me. Otherwise, it is fine.

Highlights: Head Up in the Clouds, Who Really Cares, Surviving, Ballad of a Dead Man

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 461

2025 in 2025: Day 8

Anthology [Disc 1 Ascot] - John Lennon
Oh, I wanted more rough songs from The Beatles? Close enough! This first disc from the John Lennon Anthology collection covers the recording of The Plastic Ono Band and Imagine albums; it is all demos and alternate takes. And, quite honestly, some of them are very good. I can't stress enough just how amazing this demo of I Found Out is - the final release was like a simple shuffle groove, whereas this is some hard-hitting acoustic number. Imagine with the organ is such a weird take. Overall, well worth another listen.
Highlights: I Found Out [Home Recording], Baby Please Don't Go, Jealous Guy [From 8 Track Imagine Sessions]
6.5/10

Anthology [Disc 2 New York City] - John Lennon
This disc covers the Some Time in New York City and Mind Games periods. I'm likely in the minority, but I absolutely love STNYC - angry political Lennon is my security blanket. Well, actually, my blanket is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saying "Cowabunga", but it isn't quite the right size. Anyways, we don't get much in the way of demos from that album, but a lot of live stuff from political rallies and whatnot. Then demos/outtakes for Mind Games, and some random demos for I'm the Greatest and Real Love. I enjoy Lennon doing his scat in the studio - reminds me of Elvis doing fun stuff live. If you ever need a reminder of how society evolves, just listen to Geraldo Rivera boldly brag about raising money "for the mentally retarded", before Lennon screams out the n word multiple times in his song. Wild times. 
Highlights: All the live songs, Real Love [Home Recording]
6.5/10

Anthology [Disc 3 The Lost Weekend]
This covers the Walls and Bridges and Rock 'n' Roll recording sessions. Lennon should have done more rock'n roll, because he was awesome at it and his medley of Rip It Up/Ready Teddy is super fantastic. The banter between Lennon and Psycho Phil is kind of hilarious; Lennon is clearly in a state, and Spector is a lunatic, and some of the stuff they say is... sad, considering how they ended up.
Highlights: Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out) [Alt Version], Pretty much all the Rock 'n' Roll sessions - particularly Slippin' and Slidin'
6/10

Anthology [Disc 4 Dakota]
And now we get demos and alternate takes from 1979/80. This version of I'm Losing You is much more aggressive than the Double Fantasy version. And Nobody Told Me has a lot more life to it compared to the version on Milk and Honey. Actually, most of the outtakes from that album are like that. Dang, now I want someone to just redo that whole album so it's more like this. And less like what George Martin did to Grow Old With Me here. The home recordings are all very odd choices; we get Lennon mocking Bob Dylan and then his interpretation of an Indian guru or something. Great idea - let's just end the collection with him getting cancelled...
Highlights: the Milk and Honey outtakes
5/10

Anti Anti Generation - RADWIMPS
I was not enjoying this. At all. Not even Taka from ONE OK ROCK and the usually great IKIBIJIKI was not doing anything for me. It got about halfway through the album and I was just questioning why RADWIMPS do not make good music anymore... but then I managed to correct my mood a bit, and the rest of the album hasn't offended me so greatly. In fact, this album might not actually be as bad as I remembered. Still a far cry from what I know RADWIMPS are capable of. I'm tired.
Highlights: IKIJIBIKI feat.Taka, サイハテアイニ
5/10

AOI Bionix - De La Soul
This is actually somewhat of an understandable progression. Somewhat, given RADWIMPS do a bit of rapping in their songs. Except De La Soul are very good hip-hop. And that is exactly what this album is. Very good. I bought a box of all of De La Soul's CDs many years ago, because I needed the classic grooves of 3 Feet High and Rising and De La Soul is Dead in my life. The later albums just didn't get the same attention; not because they aren't good, I just got caught up in the early stuff that I knew. This album is a reminder that I need to give the other albums some serious attention. And also my box set is now out of date.
Highlights: Simply, Peer Pressure [Feat. B-Real], Trying People
7/10

Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Back - Public Enemy
This is just Bring tha Noize with Anthrax. The original rap/metal hybrid. Almost 35 years later this song still goes hard. 
9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 66

2025 in 2025: Day 7

Anthems - Kerry Ellis
More Brian May! Kerry Ellis belts out epic showtunes and some Queen/Brian May songs, while Brian May rocks the planet. It is all as massive as one would expect. Particularly the title track (from Chess) and Defying Gravity from Wicked. It is a million times better than any other version of that song. I said what I said. Come at me, Ariana Grande and Wicked fans. Shiizzz, I ain't afraid of you mofos.
Highlights: Anthem, Defying Gravity, 
7.5/10

Anthology 1 - The Beatles
Well... there's a lot going on here. Free as a Bird has definitely grown on me over the years. From there it is lots of home demos and live stuff. The early stuff is something I probably appreciate more now as fan of older rock'n roll; hearing The Beatles as teenagers giving us some Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochrane is pretty cool. And having the Decca audition tape here is certainly historically important. And sounds great. Controversial take: I understand why they passed. Listening to the original version of Love Me Do just confirms Ringo really was the better choice from the go. The live tracks from 1963 in Sweden are pretty awesome. Actually, their performances on most of these live tracks are awesome - even if some of the recordings are showing their age (the tracks from Two of Kind in particular feature a fair bit of clipping/distortion). Not sure how many times John and Paul can sing the wrong lines in No Reply, but clearly they were trying their best! Leave My Kitten Alone deserved a proper release.
Highlights: Free as a Bird, Leave My Kitten Alone, I Saw Her Standing There (Live in Sweden 24 Oct (1963)
6/10

Anthology 2 - The Beatles
This release features the best of the John Lennon demos-turned full song in Real Love. It also covers 1965-1968, which is possibly my favourite period of The Beatles. They were firing on all cylinders at the time, writing and releasing albums like Help! and Rubber Soul. If You've Got Trouble is another song that deserved a proper release - this is a great song! The live songs here are nicely recorded and the band still sound fantastic, but def sound tired, like a band that are performing non-stop. Especially on Help! I could have done with less versions of Yesterday, but hey, what's McCartney going to do? Not put lots of himself on here? And Your Bird Can Sing is completely derailed by some stoned fools laughing hysterically while trying to record their vocals. Live songs from Tokyo in 1966 show they are just done with performing live. The Strawberry Fields Forever demos are interesting in how different the feel is compared to the final release. A Day in the Life is so brilliant and then it cuts to the orchestra randomly, but still omits the ending? Good Morning, Good Morning minus all the nonsense is such a good song. Fool on the Hill is not, no matter how many versions McCartney tries to make me to listen to. This version of Across the Universe is a million times better than that 'wildlife' version that seemed to only exist to make Lennon mad. In fact, this may well be the best version. 
Highlights: Real Love, You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) [Extended Stereo Remix], Across the Universe [Take 2]
6/10

Anthology 3 - The Beatles
I'm glad Now & Then didn't make the cut for this, because it really wasn't that great. And I find it so funny how all the articles and interviews from the time make it clear Harrison thought it was rubbish. Yet, somehow, I'm supposed to pretend he would have approved of it being released 25 years later with his involvement almost completely removed. Lennon's acoustic tracks on here are a genuine highlight and part of me wishes he had sorted himself out and finished them instead of just letting them get thrown together for the Abbey Road medley, but then we wouldn't have gotten the epic medley of greatness, so either way is a lose. This version of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da is actually less annoying, somewhat. The Savile Row sessions for Let It Be/Get Back/Whatever we are calling it these days are seriously good. Why is Get Back the only song from the rooftop concert? The kinda sad part is the Abbey Road period feels completely disjointed and like they are barely together. Which was the case, but the album itself at least managed to pretend otherwise. Still didn't need this odd remix of The End with all the extra out of place McCartney lead guitar playing.
Highlights: While My Guitar Gently Weeps [Demo], All Things Must Pass [Demo], any version of Glass Onion
5/10

That was basically a whole day of The Beatles. Luckily, it was a mostly varied chronological trek through their catalog - just in mostly inferior fashion. So I'm not sick of The Beatles right now. More sick of Anthologies?

"Albums" listened to so far: 59

LET ME ROCK YOU (1982)

Peter invented the nude bathroom selfie craze...

Solo Peter Criss album again!

Let It Go is one hell of an opening track. Better than anything Kiss themselves have done since Unmasked - but I guess that only covers Music From "The Elder", so that's not really very hard. Tears is also a really cool song. We get an interesting take on a John Lennon ballad with totally Elton John styled piano parts, before the album gets all rockin' again with Destiny. Peter's schizophrenia kicks in with the title track, showing some type of doo-wop soul mixed with 80s pop fun. It's like the sort of thing Rod Stewart was doing in the early 90s. The rest is pretty straight forward, but overall this is a much better outing than Out of Control. And the self-titled solo album. And the last Kiss album.

Highlights:

Let It Go

Lowlights:

First Day in the Rain



Verdict = 3 Smoking Les Paul Guitars