2025 in 2025: Day 176

Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure

The Cure are one of my favourite bands of all time. Easily in my top 10. They have some incredibly epic albums full of emotion, but also effortlessly switch between pop rock fun and nihilistic despair. This album is nothing of the sort.

Highlights: Grinding Halt, Another Day, 10:15 Saturday Night, Three Imaginary Boys

6/10

Thriller - Michael Jackson

Hot take: this is not MJ's best album. However, Beat It and Billie Jean are just such phenomenal songs that it meant this album sold a bajillion copies. Dangerous and Bad do not feature awful collaborations with Paul McCartney, so they are infinitely better. The worst part is that other song he did with McCartney is actually a good song!

Highlights: Beat It, Billie Jean, Human Nature, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

8/10

Throwing Copper - Live

Every song is either Quiet LOUD Quiet, or Quiet Quiet LOUD. Except for Waitress - which is LOUD Quiet LOUD, for some weird reason. It is all fine and dandy, but nothing overly exceptional that has made me go out of my way to listen to this in the last 30 years.

Highlights: Top, Pillar of Davidson, White Discussion, Iris

7/10

Tidal - Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple is the lyricist Swifties think their cult leader is. I may appreciate her angst and subsequent vocal performance on When the Pawn... more, but boy howdy this album has some pretty deep emotions. 

Highlights: Criminal, Sullen Girl, Never is a Promise, Pale September

8/10

Tiffany - Tiffany

Sadly, I do not have the full album - just I Think We're Alone Now. I am not sure why I do not have at least the other singles. Because I am lame, that is why!

8/10

Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

This is only The Goonies 'R' Good Enough - for obvious reasons! I should watch that movie again one day.

8/10

Timeless: New Recordings Honoring The Music Of Hank Williams - Various Artists

This is just Ryan Adams' cover of Lovesick Blues. He puts on his most irritating fake country voice for this one...

5/10

Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop - Stone Temple Pilots

I love Weiland's voice on this album - he has gone for a bit more of a raspy glam rock kind of vibe and it really suits the way everything comes together, because musically it has bit of a glam rock vibe as well. Like, total peak art school Led Zeppelin tribute act vibes. And I mean that in the most complimentary of ways.

Highlights: Lady Picture Show, Trippin' On a Hole in a Paper Heart, Seven Caged Tigers, Tumble in the Rough

8/10

To the 5 Boroughs - Beastie Boys

Oh snap the boys are back! Just straight-up NYC hip-hop. War is bad. George W. Bush is a clown. Racism and bigotry are bad. Sampling Sonic Reducer is the greatest idea ever and I will forgive them for using it to tell me how great New York is.

Highlights: An Open Letter to NYC, Right Right Now Now, Rhyme the Rhyme Well, Time to Build

8.5/10

TO THE DREAM - The Tomboys

As indie as ever, but even more catchy. And fun. 

Highlights: Tell Me Why, I GOTTA GO, SATURDAY NIGHT

7/10

The The Extreme - Vanilla Ice

V.I.P. in the house! I unironically love still enjoy the enjoy the bejeebus out of this album; sure, the rhymes are corny, but there are plenty of James Brown samples, fun old school grooves, and Vanilla's silly rapping is part of the charm. I still need to find that third version of Play That Funky Music...

Highlights: Ice Ice Baby, Ice is Workin' It, Dancin', Go Ill

8/10

To Whom It May Concern - Lisa Marie Presley

Lisa Marie's debut album, featuring some pretty standard pop country rock stylings - kind of like a modern take on where her Dad left off, I guess? Some surprisingly decent songs to be found. I need to remember to give this a closer listen again some time...

Highlights: Lights Out, S.O.B., Nobody Noticed It, So Lovely

7/10

Today - George Harrison

Another George Harrison bootleg of randomness. Mostly collaborations and whatnot. And I have most of them on other albums? And I am not 100% convinced he actually performs on some of them. 

Highlights: Power to the People, Your True Love (Live - Carl Perkins' Memorial Service), Horse to the Water

6.5/10

Today (Legacy Edition) - Elvis Presley

One of The King's final albums and highly underrated; still not too dissimilar to the rest of his 70s output, but it is mostly fun and Elvis feels like he put a bit of effort it. The opening track is such an old school rock'n roll kind of groove, I cannot help but love it. The undubbed versions are not too different - except you can hear Elvis getting the giggles during Susan When She Tried.

Highlights: T-R-O-U-B-L-E, Pieces of My Life, Fairytale, Shake a Hand

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1714

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2025 in 2025: Day 136

O(+> - Prince and the New Power Generation

This is probably one of my favourite Prince albums; it is not perfect, but he just went so hard with the new jack swing on this. And the funk. And the power ballad stuff. It starts off with a sermon on a mountain and just never lets up. Epic stuff. Also, Tony M gets a bad rap - he really was great on this album.

Highlights: Love 2 the 9's, My Name is Prince, The Morning Papers, Sexy M.F., 7

8/10

Obsessed - Mariah Carey

Mariah sends Eminem to the burn ward! Or something... she sure does not really sing on this like she used to; very heavy autotune and no fancy stuff. Honestly, sounds more like Lady Gaga!

Highlights: Obsessed

7.5/10

ODDINARY - Stray Kids

Fairly straight-forward big beat hip-hop K-Pop styles from these guys. And I mean that is quite different for Stray Kids; usually their stuff can get unnecessarily complicated! 

Highlights: Waiting For Us, MANIAC, Lonely St., Charmer

7/10

Odelay - Beck

I think Beck is rap for white people that pretend to like hip-hop. 

Highlights: Lord Only Knows, Where It's At, Jack-Ass, High 6 (Rock the Catskills)

7/10

Odelay [Bonus Disc] - Beck

Well this was.. pointless. Like spending my money on Beck!

Highlights: I legit could have bought a few meals instead of these Beck albums

4.5/10

Odyssey Number Five - Powderfinger

I do not have the full album - just a couple of decent songs. Which is a gawdam relief right now.

Highlights: My Happiness, My Kind of Scene

8/10

OE: Brazil - Various Artists

NZ dub and similar musicians do Brazilian style dub? Something like that, I think. So it is terrible in two countries? Just kidding - it is not that bad. Good background music, particularly the more bossa nova tracks.

Highlights: 2 4 1 - Barbatuques & Maaka Phat & P. Digsss, Embrace This Place - Funk Como le & Recloose & Tyna

5.5/10

Off The Soundboard: Live In Donington 1996 - Kiss

Reunion tour Kiss! Like most reunion tour Kiss concerts, it rocks; Gene sings like he has eaten razors, Peter drums with inconsistent tempos, Paul continues being a rockstar frontman, and Ace is Ace. I especially love the way he misses his line in Shout it Out Loud, but then jumps in and tries to make it fit. Very badly. And the beauty of being a music festival is we are talking a 90 minutes concert here - so it is just hot fire Kiss slamming it down!

Highlights: Love Gun, Black Diamond, 100,000 Years, Rock and Roll All Nite

8/10

Off The Soundboard: Live in Tokyo 2001 - Kiss

The last Kiss concert! For all of a year. The last Kiss concert with the original lineup! Except one of them got fired before the last bunch of concerts. Regardless, Eric Singer was awesome on drums and this concert kicks the big butts. Why could they not have made this Alive IV?

Highlights: Detroit Rock City, Deuce, Firehouse, Let Me Go Rock & Roll

8/10

Off the Wall - Michael Jackson

MJ with the disco fire! Take away She's Out of My Life and this would be a perfect album of banger after banger. Still a hell of a disco jam as it it.

Highlights: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Get on the Floor, Rock with You, Burn this Disco Out

8.5/10

OLest - Charisma.com

And speaking of bangers, it is everyone's favourite OL duo. Big beats, funky rhythms, catchy rapping and hooks. 

Highlights: 超絶に胸が痛んでいるあなたの上司, こんがらガール, アラサードリーミン, やれよ。

8/10

On a Day Like Today - Bryan Adams

For as much as I like Bryan Adams, this album is a bit of a weaker effort. There is a sequel of sorts to One Night Love Affair - or at least I like to think it is, because otherwise it just comes across as BA ripping himself off. And the man is way too self-aware to do that. I think maybe the whole thing is missing one of those big ballads he always seemed to pull out. Instead, outside of a few rocking tunes and that awesome duet with Melanie C, a lot of the songs are just kind of middle of the road. That duet with Melanie C sure is awesome, though.

Highlights: When You're Gone, Before the Night is Over, On a Day Like Today, Cloud Number Nine

7/10

On How Life Is - Macy Gray

I would not say no to hearing the rest of this album, but for now I will settle for only having Still in my library. Beautiful song. I still maintain that Macy Gray is the worst actor I have ever witnessed. I should watch Fuller House again...

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1210

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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 94

Hello Nasty - Beastie Boys

As much as I love Beastie Boys and their off-centre brand of music, this album is a bit long. However, it does start off with just killer hip-hop jam after hip-hop jam and it works so well. I have the remastered version so need to go back to my original CD and get the original version of The Grasshopper Unit, because the sample in the chorus is sorely missed here. 

Highlights: The Move, Just a Test, Intergalactic, The Grasshopper Unit (Keep Movin'), The Negotiation Limerick File

8/10

Hello Nasty (2009 Remastered Edition) - Beastie Boys

And this here is the bonus disc. The instrumentals are pretty rad, as are some of the remixes. I may be one of the few people that disagrees with the Beastie Boys themselves and still prefers the original version of Body Movin' to the Fatboy Slim remix (that is also pretty cool, though). 

Highlights: Dirty Dog, Switched On, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Piano Jam

7/10

HELLO WORLD - SCANDAL

This is a seriously solid album. Like, every song is the same amount of enjoyable pop punk fun. おやすみ is bordering on a taste of what is to come from them - slightly more adventurous. But yeah, just a great album.

Highlights: おやすみ, Place of life, Departure, Your song

8/10

Help! - The Beatles

This is The Beatles firing on all cylinders; Lennon writing some of the best pop songs of his life, Harrison finding his feet writing good songs, and McMarketing doing his thing, I guess. That cowbell in the chorus of I Need You is inspired and the volume pedal gives a great effect. Top stuff all around.

Highlights: Help!, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, I Need You, Ticket to Ride, I've Just Seen a Face

9/10

Hexagonal - Lessang

Another random Korean hip-hop track in my collection - this one called 헤어지지 못하는 여자, 떠나가지 못하는 남자 (The Woman Who Can't Break Up, The Man Who Can't Leave). It is decidedly groovy. According to wikipedia, Lessang were successful despite being unattractive. As opposed to LOGMAN, who is unsuccessful despite being unattractive...

8/10

High Havoc - Corduroy

My favourite cool cats with their fake 60s spy thriller soundtrack. And honestly, it works on every level. Back in the day, I thought it would have been a great idea to actually complete the circle and write a heist movie with this album as the inspiration. But I think I only got as far as calling the movie High Havoc. Honestly, I would like to know which line they are wanting to catch at 10:28 from Shibuya. It may well be outdated information, so they are possibly going to confuse some tourists from the UK.

Highlights: High Havoc, London England, The Corduroy Orgasm Club, Something in My Eye, Very Yeah

9/10

High Times: Singles 1992-2006 - Jamiroquai

Let's keep the funk rolling! I had to buy this album when on a super discount so I could get these two new songs. Such is my completist attitude. Well worth it, because they are both super funky and super cool.

Highlights: Runaway, Radio

9/10

Hillbilly Joel - The Shit

The greatest punk band go country and still manage to keep almost every song under a minute, while also retaining the whistles and roosters crowing. Every song is about drinking and being drunk. Party with The Shit!

Highlights: Passed Out In AA - FUCK, Where's the Party?, Drunk and in Jail for Arson, Dear Burger King

7/10

Hip-Hop Lives - KRS-One & Marley Marl

The Teacher teaming up with an old rival to show the young rappers how it is done. Surprisingly solid album; KRS never stops evolving and delivers a pretty firm lyrical beatdown on the world. This album deserves way more love.

Highlights: I Was There, Rising to the Top, Kill a Rapper, This Is What It Is

8/10

Hip-Hop Breaker - DJ Reggie

I have had a fantastic day so far and then DJ Reggie comes along and just brings the whole day down. Well, except for his rapping about Robert Smith stealing someone's lipstick and Tina Turner being the "President of Party Town". Stepping on broken TV screens does not sound like a fun dance. Teen Wolf could have been a good song if he had kept the whole thing from being super loud and distorted. I need a break.

Highlights: Matlock Rock, TV Shows - The Movie

5/10

HIStory - Michael Jackson

MJ was clearly pretty angry on this album; a lot of frustration and sadness being vented about the way people and the environment are being treated. And that District Attorney that was out to get him - absolutely no one is buying you are not saying Tom Sneddon in the chorus, Michael. And we def lose points for having R. Kelly on here (very much removing this song after today). But there is so much other greatness going on that I will easily forgive MJ for that one. HIStory is still the most confusing song; the verses are so badass, but then that chorus is all glorious orchestration and choir of triumph. 

Highlights: They Don't Care About Us, Stranger in Moscow, Earth Song, 2 Bad, D.S.

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 775

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2025 in 2025: Day 66

Escape - Journey

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

Highlights: Don't Stop Believin'

7.5/10

Escape - Enrique Iglesias

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

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

9/10

The Essential Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson

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

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

8/10

The Essential O'Jays - The O'Jays

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

10/10

Euphoria - Enrique Iglesias

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

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

7/10

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

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

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

7/10

Everybody!! - WANIMA

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

8.5/10

Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers

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

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

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

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

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

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

5.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 529

2025 in 2025: Day 50

Dangerous - Michael Jackson

Jam jam here comes the man! Never have truer words been spoken. MJ albums always open with an awesome song, and this may well be the most awesome. The whole first half is New Jack badassery, before it slows down with Heal the World, which feels a lot like 'We Are The World Part II'. I don't care what anyone says - Black or White is peak pop-rock-funk perfection. Damn Slash's guitar solo on Give In To Me is seriously great. I can totally picture some young MJ fans crying when they first heard his spoken word outro for Will You Be There. MJ fans were insane like kids these days have no idea. I cannot hear Gone Too Soon without thinking of Usher singing it at MJ's memorial... Vocals on Dangerous are awesome. Bah gawd this album is awesome.

Highlights: Jam, Black or White, Keep the Faith

9/10

Dare! - The Human League

This is only the hit song Don't You Want Me. Alexis Sayle throwing this in to his Dr. Martin's song on The Young Ones will always be iconic.

8/10

Dark Horse - George Harrison

Hari's On Tour sounds like it is from some sports program or something, like maybe a cricket show? This album gets a bad rap, but I always find it really consistent and super listenable. The wobble-board thing in It Is "He" is hilariously fun. If his voice had not been so destroyed, I think this album would have been quite different.

Highlights: So Sad, Dark Horse, Far East Man

7.5/10

Darkbreaker (Elizabethtown Sessions) - Ryan Adams

A whole bunch of unfinished songs? I was about to say that this version of Everyone Knows is quite good, but then it all fell apart. Two is not bad, either, though the studio version on Easy Tiger is definitely better. I was concerned that during my Ryan Adams marathon 10 years ago I may have bought in to the hype (and my own obsession with this dude) and pretended this 'album' was great, but NOPE! Even then I knew this was trash.

Highlights: Don't Get Sentimental on Me, Elizabeth

4/10

Darkest Days - Stabbing Westward

The kind of industrial metal that makes you want to dye your hair black, paint your fingernails, turn out the lights and do whatever goths do in the dark. I used to listen to this while playing the original Gran Turismo, so not totally dissimilar? This dude's voice was seriously unbeatable until Taka came along. Thing is, amongst the angry dark heavy goth metal are some fantastic hooks. And that coupled with Christopher Hall's awesome screaming has me sitting here enjoying this album immensely. 

Highlights: You Complete Me, Save Yourself, Sometime It Hurts, Desperate Now, Waking Up Beside You

8/10

David Live - David Bowie

My man Bowie had better performances, but this is still a pretty decent live album. The bluesy version of All The Young Dudes is pretty great. Earl Slick sure likes shredding up a storm all over this show.

Highlights: Moonage Daydream, All the Young Dudes, Big Brother, Time

6.5/10

Day and Age - The Killers

This was when I started losing interest in The Killers. They still had a big stack of goodwill with me for their debut album, but this album is definitely a bit of a drop-off point. Well, mostly the last half - the first half is quite fun, though very different to what they had released up to this point. Brandon Flowers is the opposite of Christopher Hall, in that his voice is weaker and just getting more annoying. And the lyrics are getting pretty naff, as well. Again, it is not all terrible, but this is certainly where they stopped living up to their name.

Highlights: Losing Touch, Human, Spaceman, Goodnight Travel Well

6.5/10

A Day at the Races - Queen

Let's end day 50 with my first proper Queen album! It's fun; some years ago I would have told you this was one of the best albums ever, but then in the lead up to listening now I was convinced it was kind of average (for a Queen album - which is still top tier). But listening now and it just owns. Seriously. It has everything: straight up rock classics (Tie Your Mother Down), beautiful ballads (You Take My Breath Away), poptastic fun (You and I), epic dark stuff (White Man), random Japanese (Teo Torriatte) and some of the best songs in the Queen catalogue (Somebody to Love). Is that solo in Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy just the funnest? Drowse is the worst Roger Taylor song, but otherwise this album is Queen at their best.

Highlights: All the songs I already mentioned and everything else too

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 392

2025 in 2025: Day 24

Blackout - Britney Spears

It's Britney, bitch! This album is enjoyable, but also completely laughable. It is very clear that Ms. Spears was involved in the writing purpose - and I do not mean that as a compliment. The lyrics are generally just completely ridiculously terrible. However, some of the production is banging. Some. And her vocals are more processed than ever, so it sounds like a fembot from Austin Powers is "singing". Again, I'm taking liberties using that word, because even with all the manipulation, these vocals are still equal to a talent quest for 12 year-olds and are invoking a lot of snickers. And not the chocolate bar (where's my sponsorship, yo!). The whole thing has serious 'moody teenager' vibes and I have to keep stopping myself from scoring the songs higher because they're mostly making me smile - just because they're so stupidly bad. And holy smokes this sample of Eurythmics is about the worst song of the bunch. The funniest part here is that this isn't even her worst album! I'm pretty sure everything she released after this gets worse and worse.

Highlights: Gimme More, Break the Ice

4/10

BLACKPINK Essentials - BLACKPINK

Now this is some proper pop music. Every BLACKPINK track released before The Album, I believe. And it is all FIRE. 

Highlights: Forever Young, As If It's Your Last, BOOMBAYAH, PLAYING WITH FIRE

8/10

Blak and Blu - Gary Clark, Jr.

This appears to be the song Ain't Messin 'Round. Honestly, I have never listened to this before. I don't know how it ended up in my iTunes. I have not even heard of this song or singer before. It's... good. Big horns and upbeat vibes. 

7/10

Blank Label 7" - Blank Label (Ryan Adams)

JLW is a massive Ramones ripoff. Also, this is trash.

Highlights: Only 7 minutes

2/10

BLAST! - ももいろクローバーZ

Someone really needs to clue me up on whether their group name is written in Hiragana like that, or if the English Momoiro Clover Z is the correct choice. I'll continue to call them MCZ for simplicity. Anyways, this is a very fun EP from a very inconsistent idol group. Idol is shit, but MCZ have their moments - mostly this EP.

Highlights: BLAST!, 何時だって挑戦者

8/10

Bleach - Nirvana

When I was 13, Nirvana were the stuff. Because I was edgy, this was my favourite Nirvana album - it was their most budget indie grunge record they recorded for cheap in a matter of days. I'm not saying anyone who says this is their favourite Nirvana album is also as much of an edgelord as 13 year-old LOGMAN, but this is definitely not their best album and I am now old and mature enough to admit I liked the idea of this album more than the album itself. Also, cool album cover? All this is not to say the album is bad; About a Girl is infinitely better here than that Unplugged version (thank Prime I don't have that album), and Negative Creep is like a gift that keeps on giving. And no Dave Grohl is like double awesome points!

Highlights: Blew, School, Negative Creep, Downer

6.5/10

Bleed American - Jimmy Eat World

What a dumb name for an album - I should delete it just for that title alone. But this is just the one song, The Middle, of course. Do Jimmy Eat World have any other songs? Are they titled stupidly like this album is? At least this is a great pop punk song that every home should have.

8/10

Bleed Like Me - Garbage

The first half of this album is awesome. Back in '05, I would play these first four songs all the time. Well, mostly tracks 2 to 4. It's an impressive way to peak early, that's for sure. The rest of the album still has some decent songs, but they get overshadowed by how awesome those first four are. 

Highlights: Run Baby Run, Right Between The Eyes, Why Do You Love Me

7.5/10

blink-182 - blink-182

So we just going to stick with my old emo songs from '05, huh? This is blink-182's best album, and I won't be taking any arguments otherwise. Dark, serious, interesting - just a genuinely strong album that often makes me mistakenly believe I am more of a blink-182 fan than I really am. I dig them, because I love pop punk. But usually their songs are immature silliness about sex stuff that I have no interest in. This album has none of that. And an appearance from Robert Smith! Great album.

Highlights: Feeling This, Obvious, Stockholm Syndrome, Asthenia

8/10

BLISTER ON MY FOOT - INKYMAP

This is INKYMAP's fist album. It's a bit more rough and hard rockin' than ASTEROID. There's nothing bad, but nothing that really stands out as much as with their later works (ASTEROID onwards). But a great start.

Highlights: Rainy Day, New World, Saturation, Drunken Driver

7/10

Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix - Michael Jackson

If this was simply an EP of the new songs, this would be a really solid MJ release. Really solid. The music and production on Ghosts is epic. My only criticism would be that Is It Scary is MJ's worst vocal performance ever recorded. Then there are the remixes; Scream, Money and 2 Bad are all super funky goodtimes, but the others are just your standard club-beat dance remixes. The one for You Are Not Alone (Classic Club Mix) is actually pretty decent - probably because that is a boring R. Kelly song that could only be improved upon with a remix. And Tony Moran's HIStory Lesson certainly does go big. Look, it's MJ. You're going to have a good time.

Highlights: Blood on the Dance Floor, Morphine, Superfly Sister, Ghosts, Scream Louder, 2 Bad (Refugee Camp Mix)

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 205

2025 in 2025: Day 15

Bad - Michael Jackson
I still remember when the video for Bad was released and it was this major moment in pop culture - pretty sure everyone in the world gathered around their television to watch the premiere. This is one of those albums that I'm like 'oh yeah, that's a good one' and then I listen to it and I end up having the best time. This may well be Michael Jackson's most perfect album. I especially like the way in Bad that he's singing all this tough rap, then the end verse is MJ saying 'let's make the world a better place!' but in a tough way, like he's going to dance on your face if you don't do it. I am a rather large fan of Steve Stevens, so him appearing to make some lazer noises is always a highlight. 

Highlights: Bad, Speed Demon, Man in the Mirror, Smooth Criminal

9/10

Bad Girl II - One Two [Feat. Seo In Young]

One Two are a rap duo from South Korea. Seo In Young has a nice voice. And this song is a good groove.

7/10

Bad Meets Evil - Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce da 5'9)

This had me confused because I forgot everything going on, but basically this is just the song Scary Movies. It is classic Eminem rapping about killing people and doing all the noises to go with it. Royce da 5'9 completely outshines him, though.

7.5/10

Bad News - Bad News

I have some 80s re-release that features a whoooole lot of skits. And they are actually hilarious. Because it's Bad News and these guys are hilarious. There's even a comment about Brian not being there, so they should drink - the Brian they are referring to is Brian May, who produced this album. And plays a bit of lead guitar here and there. His stuff is quite obvious, because he's the only person on this album that can actually play guitar well. Who would have thought "La-ger" would be a good vocal warm-up? I definitely prefer the original 'faster' version of Warriors of Ghengis Khan. I can only imagine how much Brian May must have been laughing when they recorded that guitar solo in Bohemian Rhapsody. Bah gawd this makes me want to watch The Young Ones. 

Highlights: Bohemian Rhapsody, Cashing in on Christmas

6/10

Bad Reputation - Joan Jett

Joan Jett comes storming through the wall with a leather jacket and a genuine 'outta my way' attitude. This is another case where the bonus tracks are a detriment to the album; they are fine, I guess, but just not on the level of anything on the original album, and just serve to make things longer. Otherwise, this album is pure kickass fun.

Highlights: Bad Reputation, Make Believe, Too Bad On Your Birthday

7.5/10

A Ballads - Ayumi Hamasaki

Now, iTunes do alphabetical properly by ignoring anything that starts with "A" or "The". However, that probably shouldn't apply to this album - Ayu does tend to use that "A" as genuine naming. Which would have made half of her discography start my whole marathon. So I'm very happy that didn't happen (I like having the good stuff spread out - I couldn't imagine not getting any Ayu for like 6 months). This is more of a compilation of remixes, plus two new songs. RAINBOW is magical. The alt. rock version of A Song for xx is also very cool.

Highlights: RAINBOW, HANABI, Dearest, A Song for xx "030213 Session #2"
8/10

Bananarama - The Very Best Of Bananarama - Bananarama

Well, that album title is stupid and needs to be changed. But for now, I guess this is what I get! And what I get is a collection of fun UK pop songs from the 80s. So I'm going to accept this gift very happily. Although I'm pretty sure I could cut this album down to ten tracks and it still be plenty more than "essential". 

Highlights: Venus, Love in the First Degree, I Want You Back, Only Your Love

6/10

Band of Dynamic Duo - Dynamic Duo

I ended up with a bunch of songs by Dynamic Duo, somehow. And I have a sneaking suspicion that they may not all be labelled correctly; I mean, these songs, for one, have song names like "ºÒ¸éÁõ". Now, I'm not expert in Korean linguistics, but that doesn't seem correct. Thank Prime for Shazam so I can sort these out...

Highlights: Guilty (my copy of this at least has the English title in brackets, so am at least a little more confident in the labelling on that one)
7/10

Bangerz - Miley Cyrus

This album is peak Gen Z or Millenial or whatever that generation is that were born in the 90s. The people that were like 15-22 when this album came out. Because Miley was everywhere then. Sticking her tongue out and twerking her non-existent butt. I was in my 30s and have the personality of a grumpy old man, so I just found her annoying. It all kinda distracted from her singing... which is dumb, because she is effortlessly awesome at singing. Twelve years on, I can remove all that and just reflect on the music. And this album is pretty darn good. Sure, there are a few duds, but most pop albums have those. Otherwise, the album is pretty much what it claims to be: Bangerz. Writing a song in TXT speak is about as peak whatevergeneration as it gets.

Highlights: Adore You, Wrecking Ball, FU, On My Own

7.5/10

Barbra Streisand [Single] - Duck Sauce

Get down with your funky self! Or even Barbra Streisand. This song definitely wins awards for being so random. I need to get to that auto-biography soon...

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 124

Something I Never Realised

Stranger in Moscow by Michael Jackson is one hell of a great song. I once had a girlfriend that loved the song and I just dismissed it as being lame. But I have really warmed to it over the last few years and just now gave it a serious listen. That song is the work of genius.

Then I went to the wikipedia page and read about it - boy, that is seriously deep as well. And the video itself was apparently inspired by MJ's own personal experiences walking the streets at night, trying to make friends but feeling more alone.

Fucking deep.

I know what you are thinking - like I ever had a girlfriend...