2025 in 2025: Day 112

The Libertines - The Libertines

I fell in love with Up the Bracket almost instantly, so was very excited once I picked this album up. And it kicks off with one of the best songs by The Libertines. But the rest of the album after that is decidedly average, sans a few highlights here and there. And then they split up due to many MANY insane reasons. Honestly, I am surprised Peter Doherty managed to cobble together an album this coherent. And is still alive. 

Highlights: Can't Stand Me Now, What Became of the Likely Lads, What Katie Did, The Ha Ha Wall

7/10

Lick It Up - Kiss

I do not have the patience to write about this album again. One of my least favourite Kiss albums. The demo of Not For The Innocent on the Creatures of the Night box set is genuinely better than the studio version found here.

Highlights: Lick It Up, Gimme More, A Million to One

6/10

LiE LiE LiE - BiSH

Possibly the second best single from the BiSH is OVER series? Featuring a comically fun song that constantly just says "Fuck you!", and a b-side that is also upbeat and totally rips it up (and rips off Bulls on Parade). Good times!

Highlights: LiE LiE LiE, Why are you alive??

10/10

Lies - Guns 'N Roses

Oh man, the Live Like a Suicide EP part just rips! Rips hard!! Axl's voice on this is killer. And Duff's tone is so badass and punchy as hell. The acoustic side is also very good. Patience is iconic. And not in the way that kids these days use that word.

Highlights: Patience, Mama Kin, Used to Love Her, Nice Boys

8/10

Life After Death - The Notorious B.I.G.

At the risk of losing all of my hip-hop cred, I have never been all that big on Biggie. Just have not actually heard much of him, if I am being totally honest. Maybe one day I should correct that? This song, however, is just the funkiest slice of 90s super fly jams. And Mase is pretty cool.

10/10

Life Is Peachy - KoЯn

16 year-old LOGMAN thought this album was a total mess. Almost 30 years later, and it is still an absolute mess. But, you know what? I actually did not hate listening to this as much as I expected I would, considering how awfully all their other albums have aged. Now, I am not saying this is totally rad or that I will even be keeping it in my library - because I am looking forward to deleting the whole KoЯn section once this is over - but it is mostly listenable. Mostly. K@#0%! is one of the worst attempts for a song of this entire marathon so far. Absolute immature nonsense. Meanwhile, Wicked is just a barrel of fun and I will give all credit to Chino Moreno, because he is cool and his band is cool and KoЯn are definitely not. Hot damn, I did not expect to be saying Life is Peachy is the best KoЯn album, but here we are...

Highlights: Wicked, Chi, Good Go, Ass Itch

6/10

A Life Less Ordinary (Original Soundtrack) - Various Artists

Aah, back when Ewan McGregor could act... This album is almost like a time capsule of electro Britpop from the late 90s. Plus Beck. But he kind of subverts all ideas like that. I always found it interesting that the movie features two different versions of Leave by R.E.M. and then the soundtrack has the depressing minimalist version, while the full 'band' version is on their New Adventures in Hi-Fi album. Most of this is just kind of here...

Highlights: A Life Less Ordinary - Ash, Always on My Mind - Elvis Presley, Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin, Don't Leave - Faithless

7/10

A Life of Saturdays - Dexter Freebish

I know nothing of Dexter Freebish, other than the song Leaving Town. I met a guy in Melbourne who would always jam this song, so we would jam it together. Among other great songs. He was a great guy and I hope he is doing well in life.

10/10

Life on Other Planets - Supergrass

This album is so consistently fun and drivingly upbeat. It is exactly what you want from a Supergrass album in 2002.

Highlights: Grace, Funniest Thing, Can't Get Up, La Song

8/10

Life Won't Wait - Rancid

How is Bloodclot the only Rancid song in my collection? Like, I do not even have Roots Radicals in here? Take back my punk card and send me to the oldie station, I guess...

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 975

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2025 in 2025: Day 108

Kiss - Dara [ft. CL]

Half of 2NE1 unite to thrown down some killer K-Pop. They should have done more together. Or just bring back 2NE1 forever?

8/10

Kiss - Kiss

I have written about this album. Twice. Kiss rock.

Highlights: Black Diamond, 100,000 Years, Deuce, Cold Gin, Strutter

8/10

Kiss (Deluxe Edition) - Carly Rae Jepsen

Girly bubblegum pop and it feels so good. If I gave my wife a guitar string to wrap around her finger instead of an actual wedding ring, I think the wedding would have been immediately cancelled. Also, that would be mighty uncomfortable. Honestly, if you are on a tight budget, there are always genuine ring options that are quite affordable. No need to settle for some hacked nickel wire.

Highlights: Call Me Maybe, Good Time, More Than a Memory, Almost Said It

7/10

Kiss from the Darkness - SCANDAL

The coolest ex-idol ladies continuing their growth with a very mature-sounding album. Exploring different soundscapes, but not abandoning their pop roots at all. And then kicking it up to 11 on a few songs. A.M.D.K.J. absolutely stomps harder than almost anything else they have ever done! 

Highlights: A.M.D.K.J., 最終兵器、君, 月, セラミックブルー

8/10

Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me - The Cure

The Cure doing what The Cure do best; a mix of 80s pop with long dark synth driven stuff as well. Except the album kinda drags a bit and the last half is definitely not as good as the first, but the pop songs here are immaculate. Shiver and Shake is the funnest diss track, where the person being dissed is performing on the recording. Very Fleetwood Mac of Robert Smith, there.

Highlights: Just Like Heaven, Hey You!, Why Can't I Be You?, The Kiss

8/10

That is enough kissing for today!

Knee Deep in the Hoopla - Starship

Naturally, this is purely We Built This City. Awesome song. So many internets losers call this the worst song ever or some bullshit. Clearly they need to listen to more music, because this is actually one of the best!

10/10

Know Your Enemy - Manic Street Preachers

How do you follow up an album that breaks you through to a worldwide number one by playing it incredibly safe? Why, make an album that sounds like an absolute mess, of course! Some of the songs rock really hard underneath all the noise and calamity. So it all gets a tick from me. Plus I have the special edition that tacks on one of their finest singles ever. I really should get the reissue of this and find out how it compares, because I believe it has all been remixed and re-sequenced - interesting to see what difference it makes.

Highlights: The Masses Against the Classes, Dead Martyrs, Found That Soul, Freedom of Speech Won't Feed My Children

6.5/10

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge - Alan Partridge

This is the radio show, which preceded the hilarious TV show. And like the TV show, the episode where he takes it on the road is top stuff. 

Highlights: Alan interviews Conrad Knight & Sally Hoff, Alan and Tony Hayers take calls live on air, Alan is tricked into snorting coke live on air by "France's second best F1 racing driver", Lord Morgan of Glossop 

9/10

Концерт - Billy Joel

Billy Joel live in Russia. I watched this concert a billion times on video when I was a child. I remember thinking it was super cool. Also remember the video ran out right near the end of Big Shot, so here I am almost 40 years later still wondering if Billy Joel jumped off his piano at the end...

Highlights: Goodnight Saigon, Allentown, Angry Young Man, Big Shot

7/10

KoЯn - KoЯn

This album is so much tighter and well-made than anything else these goofs ever attempted. 14 year-old LOGMAN thought it was kind of cool, which is probably why these guys are still in my library. There is a lot of latent homophobia going on here. And dumb shit that appeals to teenage boys, I guess.

Highlights: Need To, Divine, Ball Tongue, Helmet in the Bush

6.5/10

Kotten - Kotten

I do not even know where this fits, stylistically. It is kind of alt. country, but more standard and less country? So, more pop rock, without rocking and no hooks? Ryan Adam got better, but also simultaneously worse!

Highlights: Unknown 3, Unknown 4

6/10

Krystal Meyers - Krystal Meyers

Christian rock's answer to Avril Lavigne (this was released back when she was popular). In fact, I think the latter even co-wrote a song on this album. What does she know about Christian music? Or making good music, even? That coda in The Way to Begin is better than anything Avril could ever hope to write. Honestly, take out the cringe pockets of religious babble and this album would be an above average angsty teen girl bop.

Highlights: The Way to Begin, Fall to Pieces, My Savior

6/10

Kylie Minogue: Greatest Hits - Kylie Minogue

As much as she has some great tracks, this is purely a remix of I Should Be So Lucky. Which is crazy. I loved this song when it came out. She was popular as a pop star here before we even saw her on Neighbours!

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 941

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2025 in 2025: Day 102

Invincible - Michael Jackson

The production on this album is super badass and it is pretty much MJ at his most R&B. It was always going to be in the shadow of all his previous works, unless he had released another masterpiece. Which he didn't? Some great songs, though, which showed he still had it.

Highlights: Hearbreaker, Break of Dawn, 2000 Watts, Threatened, That scream of "Slash!" right before the guitar solo in Privacy

7.5/10

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

This is purely the b-side I Don't Want to Know - it is a Fleetwood Mac cover. I have Iris on Dizzy Up the Girl and have zero interest in ever listening to the edited single version.

8/10

Issues - KoЯn

Bagpipes. Weird interludes. Rattling bass. Bad singing and stupid lyrics. It is a classic KoЯn album! The last half of this is all jangly guitars in the verses.

Highlights: Falling Away From Me, Beg For Me, Somebody Someone, Let's Get This Party Started

5.5/10

It's Better to Travel - Swing Out Sister

This is purely that 80s smash hit Breakout. Not to be confused with the Frehley's Comet rocker. No Eric Carr on drums, here!

8/10

It's My Sin - Jan Hellriegel

90s West-Auckland rock. Some seriously giant reverb all over this. That chorus in The Way I Feel is tops.

Highlights: The Way I Feel, No Idea, It's My Sin

6/10

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

This is just the song. And what a song!

9/10

IT'z ICY - ITZY

ICY is the song of the Summer. Not just 2019 - I am talking EVERY Summer. It is fun having the remix of DALLA DALLA since that is the only ITZY single I do not have. Which is silly, because that is a great song.

Highlights: ICY, DALLA DALLA (DallasK Remix), WANT IT? (Imad Royal Remix)

7.5/10

IT'z ME - ITZY

The video for Wannabe is dope. But we are not here to talk about music videos. What am I? MTV?

Highlights: Wannabe, Nobody Like You, That's a No No, 24Hrs

7.5/10

iTunes Festival: London 2013 - Justin Timberlake

I think this was one of those free Xmas gifts from Apple or something. It is actually pretty decent - the band are tight and funky. The recording sounds like it was sourced from a video.

Highlights: Sexyback, Take Back the Night

7/10

IV - Ryan Adams

This is the follow up to III, which I am sure is quite logical. It is a bit more rocking. Kind of like the Rock N Roll album, but less messy and with better singing? That bridge in Icebreaker is perfection. I would rate the song Star Wars higher if it was not about Star Wars and how much he loves it. I knew there was a reason I think he is a clown!

Highlights: No, Numbers, Icebreaker, P.S., Kill the Lights

7/10

IV - Cypress Hill

Much like III, the music here is quite sparse and less powerful, while the lyrics and vocals are VERY angry. I wonder how much of it comes down to the mix or mastering. Sen Dog gets his nu-metal on with Lightning Strikes and it makes me want to track down his short-lived nu-metal band, because they were actually pretty decent. 

Highlights: Tequila Sunrise, Checkmate, Nothin' to Lose, Lightning Strikes

7/10

Ixnay on the Hombre - The Offspring

The first major label release and it is still pretty rad. Certainly a lot better than anything they put out afterwards! Pretty funny going from a group that promotes the use of marijuana, to a group that sings about drugs being bad. 

Highlights: Leave It Behind, Gone Away, Amazed, Change the World

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 876

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2025 in 2025: Day 88

Greatest Hits - Ice Cube

This is purely You Can Do It, because this song is one helluva a badass track. I should have the full album, or at least more Ice Cube, probably.

9/10

Greatest Hits - Falco

You know the drill; this is just Rock Me Amadeus and... Putting on the Ritz? That's not even a Falco song. This version of Rock Me Amadeus seems to be some sort of remix. Clearly I need to sort this out...

8/10

Greatest Hits - Bob Seger

An actual full album - though I do hesitate to call a greatest hits compilation an album. Bob Seger is highly underrated. I am not saying that he is the greatest rocker ever or anything like that, but he has some seriously fantastic songs that should be played on classic rock radio stations a lot more. For those weirdos that still listen to radio stations.

Highlights: Hollywood Nights, Still the Same, Night Moves, Against the Wind

7/10

Greatest Hits - Aretha Franklin

Bah gawd this woman could sing. This contains a whole lot of cover songs, but also a nice range of her soul classics and 80s jams. I think I may actually prefer the Blues Brothers version of Think.

Highlights: I Knew You Were Waiting, Respect, Like a Natural Woman, Rock Steady

7/10

Greatest Hits - Diana Ross

This is purely I'm Coming Out, which is a glorious display of funk and pop and dance.

10/10

Greatest Hits - 2Pac

Surprisingly, I have never really been much of a 2Pac fan. However, I have Changes and All About U, because they are killer. Changes is definitely better than that Van Morrison song.

10/10

Greatest Hits - Joe Tex

This is just Ain't Gonna Bump No More - which may well be the funnest funky song on the planet. How have I never heard more Joe Tex?

10/10

Greatest Hits III - Queen+

This is basically the Queen+ portion of the album, since I have all the rest elsewhere. But why has No One But You not been released elsewhere?

Highlights: The Show Must Go On (Live w/Elton John), Somebody to Love (Live w/George Michael), No One But You

9/10

Greatest Hits Live - Ace Frehley

When I did Kissathon II, these songs had been split across a couple of older Ace Frehley compilations. It has since been released as its own album, so it is nice to have them all in once place - even if it is clearly two different concerts. The two bonus studio tracks are the absolute best songs.

Highlights: One Plus One, Give it to Me Anyway, Shock Me (Live), Stranger in a Strange Land (Live)

8/10

Greatest Hits Live - Split Enz

Not sure how I ended up with this, but it is purely Six Months in a Leaky Boat. I would be interested to hear the rest of the album. And my library certainly needs more Split Enz.

9/10

Greatest Hits Vol. 1 - KoЯn

Thank Prime this is just their cover of Word Up! Which is vastly inferior to both the original and the Gun cover. That version rocks the cocks!

7/10

Greatest Kiss - Kiss

I have said it before and I will say it again, but this is the best Kiss compilation. And while I have all these songs on their respective albums, I will never remove this from my library, because sometimes you just need an awesome Kiss compilation to get you in the groove.

Highlights: The Whole Kit and Caboodle

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 727

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2025 in 2025: Day 73

Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords

Nothing like starting the day with some relaxed comedy music. 

Highlights: Think About It, Robots, Mutha'ukas, The Most Beautiful Girl (In The Room)

6.5/10

FLY - YUKI

The thing about this album is that the songs are good, but not great. And then live some of them come across as the greatest songs ever. SO that leads me to believe something was really lacking in the production here.

Highlights: Jodi Wideman, はみだせ　ラインダンスから, 波乗り500マイル, 真夜中の恋人, わたしの願い事

6.5/10

Folie À Deux - Fall Out Boy

This album is big and epic and a bit dark and full of awesome lyrics. The first half is a masterclass on how to write a modern rock album... except it is almost 20 years old at this point. Holy balls where is the time going?!?

Highlights: Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes, I Don't Care, America's Suitehearts, (Coffee's For Closers), Pavlove

8/10

Follow the Leader - KoЯn

Jonathan Davis is a terrible singer. Musically they can be quite fun on songs like Got the Life, but the lyrics are awful and the "singing" is bad. And his scatting is just all kinds of stupid.

Highlights: Got the Life, The intro My Gift to You

5/10

Follow the Lights - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Well this sure is a drastic change from what I just had to endure. This might still be one of DRA's strongest releases; rootsy acoustic numbers, a classic Alice in Chains cover, reworkings of some of his own songs, and lots of beautiful harmonies. That second verse in this version of Dear John is the stuff.

Highlights: My Love for You is Real, Blue Hotel, This Is It [Cardinal's Version], If I Am a Stranger [Live Studio Recording], Dear John [Live Studio Recording]

9/10

Fool for the City - Foghat

This is some classic 70s rock, right here. And it has everything you need; big long jams and guitar solos, groovy riffs and even some honky-tonk piano.

Highlights: Slow Ride, Fool for the City, Save Your Loving (For Me), Drive Me Home

7.5/10

Fool's Gold - Ryan Adams

For as good as Gold is, and how sad DRA was to not have it be a proper double-album, these songs are... average. At best. 

Highlights: The Bar is a Beautiful Place, Rosalie Come and Go, Dear Chicago

5/10

Footloose: Original Soundtrack of the Paramount Motion Picture - Various Artists

Because I am a disgrace to my generation, this is not the complete album. I'm really finding out a lot about myself with this marathon...

Highlights: Footloose - Kenny Loggins

8/10

For the Working Class Man - Jimmy Barnes

If you don't get chills during the ending of Working Class Man, then you must be dead. And if you are dead, you are missing out on a great album by Jimmy Barnes. Also, if you are dead and reading this you might be a zombie, so watch out for people trying to injure your head.

Highlights: I'd Die to Be With You Tonight, Working Class Man, No Second Prize, Ride the Night Away

8/10

Fore! - Huey Lewis and The News

Jeebus this is getting embarrassing. This is only The Power of Love. Which is not even really a song from the album (it was only included on international releases). There are so many good songs to hear from this album, like Stuck With You and Hip to Be Square, and here I am with just one random song that is more accurately from the Back to the Future soundtrack? LOGMAN is a joke.

10/10

Foreign Affair - Tina Turner

And continuing with my trend of having nothing real, this is purely The Best. I mean, it is a fantastic song, so there is at least that. Hot take; the version with Jimmy Barnes screaming like a maniac is even better.

9/10

Forever - Spice Girls

I better get a 25th Anniversary version of this album this year to match the other two releases. I will admit, I did not get this album when it was released. It is so different to those fantastic pop albums they released in the late 90s. Much more of an urban R&B kind of thing. But the Mels excel at that sort of thing, so it is like they aimed it perfectly at me!

Highlights: Holler, Tell Me Why, Goodbye, Get Down With Me, Wasting My Time, If You Wanna Have Some Fun

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 595