2025 in 2025: Day 177

Together Alone - Crowded House

This album is almost a bit more experimental than every other Crowded House album. Certainly more adventurous; some of the songs have a bit more teeth to them, while others just veer off into jamming and traditional Polynesian rhythms and drumming and singing. 

Highlights: Distant Sun, Locked Out, In My Command, Fingers of Love

7.5/10

Together Alone [Deluxe Edition] - Crowded House

Home demos, band demos, writing demos - we got all your demos! And a couple of live tracks and alternate mixes. It is almost comical to think this is how Private Universe could have ended up sounding like. 

Highlights: Black and White Boy [Early Rough Mix], Tail of Comet [Live], Fingers of Love [Alternate Studio Take]

6.5/10

Tokyo Girl [Single] - Perfume

The end theme to my favourite drama. I have to listen to this every time I go see Tokyo Tower for that very reason. Honestly, though, those verses are so fantastic... but the chorus is just typical Perfume. 

Highlights: Tokyo Girl, 宝石の雨

8.5/10

Tommyland: The Ride - Tommy Lee

If he had never been in Mötley Crüe, Tommy Lee probably could have been a popular radio rock guy. Like, there is nothing on here worse than Nickelback. In fact, the dude from Nickelback is here, too! I just read the credits and there are some hilarious features. I actually quite enjoy this, for the most part!

Highlights: Makin' Me Crazy, Tryin' to Be Me, Good Times, Sister Mary

7/10

Too Fast For Love - Mötley Crüe

From the best member of The Crüe, to their debut album! 

If I remember correctly, a couple of friends bought me this on cassette back when I was like 11 or something. I think it may have been the first Mötley Crüe album I actually owned! Live Wire is awesome. Come On and Dance is pretty cool - that classic cowbell is kinda funny, as are the bad harmonies. I guess Vince was easily the best singer in the band at this stage (which is funny because 45 years later he is probably the worst and has been for like 25 years). I have always dug Public Enemy #1, even if it has absolutely nothing to do with the band Public Enemy. Which was very disappointing to 11 year-old LOGMAN. It has a real 70's rock vibe. Merry-Go-Round is some sort of power ballad wannabe, but cannot be taken seriously because it sounds like Vince is singing "Mewwy go wound and wound". Take Me to the Top may have been the first song on the album I liked? And then there is Piece of Your Action which is just badassery. Possibly the most "Mötley Crüe" song on the album. And also possibly the first Mötley Crüe guitar solo I attempted to learn (I didn't understand what slide guitar was). Actually the last half of this album is awesome; Starry Eyes is dark and moody (you can tell, because there is a gong strike), Too Fast For Love is good times with gang-vocals chorus fun, and On With the Show is actually a very good power ballad (complete with hilarity where Mick Mars gets out of time double-tracking his guitar, and then just repeats his solos about 40 times throughout the song). A very strong debut album. I was today years-old when I really understood that this is much more of a 70's rock influenced affair - very Cheap Trick meets Sweet in an Aerosmith tribute show. And Vince sounds squeaky. Man, time flies when you are having fun!

Highlights: Piece of Your Action, Starry Eyes, Live Wire, Take Me to the Top

8.5/10

Too Legit to Quit - MC Hammer

Look, the songs are mostly too long and there was no need for the super slow songs in the middle. And a downbeat song with no real groove should not go over 8 minutes. Now all that said... THIS ALBUM GOES HARD! The pop stuff just goes off, the gospel is next level, and everything in between is just awesome - and this is not nostalgia driven, either, because I had no love for this album back in 1991. I grew up and got wise. You should, too! The title track is the most head-rocking foot stomping hip-hop track in my library.

Highlights: 2 Legit 2 Quit, Find Yourself a Friend, Do Not Pass Me By, Count It Off, This is the Way We Roll

8/10

Too Tight - MC Hammer

Oh we just going with Hammer today? The man rolled up to Death Row and put together an album so good... it never got released. Which is a shame, because this album a serious groove. The fake radio skits are such a cliche of the times, and because it is Hammer, everything is just a bit too long. Sometimes a lot too long. But the collabs with dudes like Tupac are better than you could have imagined.

Highlights: Too Late Playa, Unconditional Love, Hammertime Brings It, Get Up

7/10

Too-Rye-Ay - Dexy's Midnight Runners

This is just Come On Eileen, because at least give me some of my 80s cred!

8/10

The Top - The Cure

Robert Smith goes insane from doing too many drugs, and puts it all to music... while doing a lot of drugs?

Highlights: Bananafishbones, Shake Dog Shake, The Caterpillar, The Top

6.5/10

Torn Down - The Cure

Another remix album. As essential as any remix album before it...

Highlights: Shake Dog Shake (New Blood Mix), A Night Like This (Hello Goodbye Mix), It's Over (Whisper Mix)

6/10

Totally 80s - Various Artists

A very underwhelming compilation of 80s pop "hits" - would appear to be heavily British-influenced. British New Wave was better than a lot of their pop output. I should have more Go West in my library.

Highlights: We Close Our Eyes - Go West, Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant, Missing You - John Waite, Vienna - Ultravox, Respectable - Mel & Kim

7/10

Totally Krossed Out - Kriss Kross

These dorks with their backwards clothing sure made a few cool songs, namely Jump and Warm It Up. And that is about all I know when it comes to them.

8/10

Touch - Sarah McLachlan

Does this earn me back some 80s cred? Because boy howdy this sure has some big 80s reverb all over it. Feels like it is even more indie 80s alt than you would expect - I do not recall this even being mentioned in the Sarah McLachlan theory...

Highlights: Vox, Steaming

6.5/10

Touch - Eurythmics

Oooh an 80s album called Touch? This one came first! And is at its finest when it gets all dark and moody. The beats are so mesmerising and Annie Lennox's vocals are just divine.

Highlights: Here Comes the Rain Again, Who's That Girl?, Paint a Rumour, No Fear No Hate No Pain (No Broken Hearts), Aqua

7.5/10

Tougher Than Leather - Run-D.M.C.

I am in the minority, but this album is possibly my favourite hip-hop album of all time. ALL TIME. It just goes so damn hard from the start and never lets up. And they really lived up to the moniker of The Kings of Rock with this one. Honestly, I doubt I would love hip-hop the way I do if not for this album.

Highlights: Run's House, Mary Mary, Beats to the Rhyme, Radio Station, I'm Not Going Out Like That

10/10

Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith

Well, what a coinkidink! It is these guys and the original version of Walk This Way! This is their most consistent and solid outing from the 70s. Easily. That main riff to No More No More is so great and I wish I could remember how to play it.

Highlights: Sweet Emotion, Walk This Way, No More No More, Round and Round

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1730

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2025 in 2025: Day 172

Super Trouper - ABBA

ABBA come storming into the 80s with a gem of a pop album; big synth bass, funky grooves, killer hooks, disco beats, amazing vocals... Could have done with more disco grooves, but ABBA gots to pay the bills and no one did pop like them.

Highlights: On and On and On, Super Trouper, The Winner Takes It All, Lay All Your Love On Me

8/10

Supergrass - Supergrass

Standard late-90s Supergrass rocking out. Not their best work and I have never gotten the hype for Pumping on Your Stereo, but is is still pretty decent enough. One of those random albums where the second half is way better than the first.

Highlights: Moving, Mary, Jesus Came From Outer Space, Faraway

7/10

SUPERIORITY - 我儘ラキア

This is very solid alt. idol coolness; fairly heavy in parts, but one of the best tracks is just straight-up hip-hop. I highly rate the leader/main singer and hope she has some success now they have disbanded.

Highlights: JOKER, GIRLS, JOURNEY, FUTURES

9/10

Superman and Other Galactic Heroes - Meco

The Superman theme is the best superhero theme and giving it the disco treatment makes it even more heroic. I am not convinced these Batman themes are from anything other than Meco's imagination, but someone should make a disco Batman movie and use them accordingly.

Highlights: Themes from "Superman", The Caped Crusader, The Boy Wonder

7/10

The Supersonic Storybook - Urge Overkill

Urge Overkill and Butch Vig in their indie days. Not nearly as fun as any of their major label stuff, but still interesting and Theme from Navajo features one heck of a heavy riff.

Highlights: The Kids are Insane, Bionic Revolution, (Today Is) Blackie's Birthday, Theme from Navajo

7/10

Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie - Alanis Morissette

Dark. Industrial influence. Introspective. A lot of weird-ass storytelling. Lacking the angst and pop rock of Jagged Little Pill - which is probably why it was viewed as such a poor follow-up. But not by LOGMAN; this is what made me a fan! Cut the last few songs and it would be perfect!

Highlights: I Was Hoping, Joining You, Unsent, That I Would Be Good

8/10

Surfacing - Sarah McLachlan

This is probably peak Felicity material right here. The Sarah McLachlan Theory remains one of the hallmarks of USian television moments and I should revisit it to understand what this album means in that context... *edit* 

Highlights: Building a Mystery, Do What You Have to Do, Adia, Angel

7/10

Surrender - The Chemical Brothers

Banging dance groove after banging dance groove. Nothing as groundbreaking as you would find on Come With Us or Dig Your Own Hole, but there never a dull moment on this album and the guests are all cool. That breakdown in Out of Control is the more New Order than 2025 New Order would ever dream of.

Highlights: Let Forever Be, Out of Control, Under the Influence, Dream On

8.5/10

Swagger - Gun

Fairly standard mid-90s rock, if not a little hair metal flavoured - so not so standard? Also the greatest cover of Word Up! on the planet. 

Highlights: Word Up!, Don't Say It's Over, One Reason, Stand in Line

7/10

Sweat - Nelly

More club dance jams with Nelly counting his money and showing off his money and then him and his crew bragging they get ladies for free - even though they have a lot of money. I bet listening to this album makes Nelly sad now. Random Missy collab sighting!

Highlights: River Don't Run, Heart of a Champion, Tilt Ya Head Back, Another One

7/10

Sweat (Snoop Dogg vs. David Guetta) [Remix] - Snoop Dogg & David Guetta

This is like one of those interviews that has been turned into an autotune song, although those are intentionally funny?

3/10

Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics

Peak minimalist dark synth wave 80s new romantic pop, right here. Just a drum machine and some funky bass lines and A LOT of reverb.

Highlights: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Somebody Told Me, Wrap It Up, This City Never Sleeps

7.5/10

Sweet Summer Sun, Live in Hyde Park 2013 (Live) - The Rolling Stones

This was some live EP that I think iTunes gave away. Remember when they used to give away music and movies around Xmas? Man, life was good!

Highlights: Tumbling Dice (Live), Beast of Burden (Live)

7/10

Sweetfish - Dead Flowers

A bit of an improvement in production over their first album, but some of it still sounds very much like mid-90s NZ alt rock. But there are some cool riffs and melodies and songs in here. I actually used to do a bunch of these songs when busking.

Highlights: Shades, Slumber, Home, Same Same

7/10

Swingshift - Cold Chisel

Another live album from these rockers. A bit less of the bigger hits here and lots of feedback instead. Barnesy sounds great for the most part - Cheap Wine almost sounds angry!

Highlights: Cheap Wine, Goodbye (Astrid Goodbye), Star Hotel, Rising Sun

7/10

Synkronized - Jamiroquai

The start of 'new' Jamiroquai. It has the distinction of having a couple of absolutely killer funky tracks, and the rest of completely underwhelming.

Highlights: Canned Heat, Black Capricorn Day, Planet Home, Soul Education

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1656

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2025 in 2025: Day 165

The Slim Shady LP - Eminem

When Eminem was content to just be funny. This album is definitely a lot more fun than anything else he did after. It was such a unique style and pretty game-changing. Not a huge fan of the first half, but the last half is pretty solid; lyrics focus less on the homophobia and sex crimes, and more just throwing up the middle fingers and killing people. I cannot even remember the last time I listened to this, but I still remember all the lyrics!

Highlights: Bad Meets Evil, Guilty Conscience, Just Don't Give a Fuck, Still Don't Give a Fuck

7.5/10

Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi

Big keyboards, big guitars, big drums, big hooks. They were really on something with the writing of this album - some of the lyrics are seriously cringe, but the way everything comes together is pretty fantastic.

Highlights: Wanted Dead or Alive, Wild in the Streets, Livin' on a Prayer, Let It Rock, Never Say Goodbye

9/10

Slipway Fires - Razorlight

If you look up "Mediocre" in the dictionary, they will just have this album cover. It is all listenable but completely forgettable and lacking in any emotion.

Highlights: Monster Boots

5/10

SLITS - YUKI

There is a formula to YUKI's last few albums; some full on electronic numbers, a little bit of jazz/funk fusion, an acoustic song, and one or two songs that are just mind-blowingly amazing. Not only is こぼれてしまうよ one of the greatest songs ever, but the bass playing on it is just phenomenal.

Highlights: こぼれてしまうよ, パ・ラ・サイト, One One One, ユニヴァース

8/10

Smash - The Offspring

When LOGMAN was 14 years-old, he did not notice the message of these lyrics - he just heard some catchy songs that sounded aggressive and occasionally made jokes about killing people in road rage. Heck, I did not even get the joke of that! Thirty years later, I can appreciate how much these songs are very upfront anti-capitalist and anti-conformity. How they went from that to fucking Why Don't You Get a Job boggles my mind.

Highlights: Smash, Come Out and Play, It'll Be a Long Time, Nitro (Youth Energy)

8/10

Smashes, Thrashes & Hits - Kiss

After Kissathon II, I reduced this to simply the "new" songs. Because I did not need more weak remixes of classic Kiss songs. What remains is basically an EP of super cheesy 80s pop rock and VERY suggestive lyrics. So, a good time with Kiss...

Highlights: Let's Put the X in Sex, (You Make Me) Rock Hard

8/10

Smell the Magic - L7

I have come to the conclusion that L7 are the band Kurt Cobain wished he could have been in. Or at least the type of music he thought he was making. Especially this album. It is ferocious and has some actual hooks as well. 

Highlights: Till the Wheels Fall Off, Shove, Packin' a Rod

7.5/10

Smile... It Confuses People - Sandi Thom

Zero idea how or why I have this album. Even less idea if I have ever listened to it before now. Her singing is a bad as her idea of what punk rocker was.

Highlights: It is a relatively short album

5.5/10

Snapz the Clown - DJ Reggie

Dear gawd, no thanks. Less shitty hip-hop, more just general shit. And lots of peaked-out distortion. Someone should have taught DRA to mix.

Highlights: It is even shorter!

3/10

So - Peter Gabriel

The only song from this album I have is Big Time. And while this is a great song, I can not help but think there are many other great songs on this album and I can not understand why they are not in my collection. Other than me being an embarrassment to all mankind.

8/10

So Long, Astoria - The Ataris

I have previously mentioned these dudes' cover of The Boys of Summer is golden, but the rest of this album is very much in my Q Zone - it is kind of early emo pop punk. Like the self-titled blink-182 album, minus the heavy synths and electro stuff. 

Highlights: The Boys of Summer, I Won't Spend Another Night Alone, My Reply, Takeoffs and Landings, So Long Astoria

7.5/10

So-Called Chaos - Alanis Morissette

This album is much more positive and upbeat than her previous albums; I will blame Ryan Reynolds, who also made a cameo in the video for Everything. Her voice is very good here.

Highlights: Excuses, Everything, Eight Easy Steps

7.5/10

Solace - Sarah McLachlan

This is not bad by any stretch, but it is lacking in anything really special. It all kind of just there in the background. I blame the super spacious production.

Highlights: Wear Your Love Like Heaven, Back Door Man

6.5/10

Solitaire - Clay Aiken

I have any versions of Elvis singing this song, as well. That is probably about it.

7/10

Some Gave All - Billy Ray Cyrus

This is purely Achy Breaky Heart. I used to perform this one live and you would not believe how much people loved it. Never failed.

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1550

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2025 in 2025: Day 151

Rarities 1984-85 - The Cure

In a shocking turn of events, this consists of instrumental demos, studio demos and bootleg live recordings! At least by now Robert Smith has moved out of his parents' home and does not need to record songs on their organ, I guess?

Highlights: Stop Dead [Demo], Sinking [Live]

6/10

Rarities 1986-87 - The Cure

A lot of instrumental demos and then a few live tracks. I recall when this was released Robert Smith offered up an explanation that he had compiled two different versions and took it around to friends to get advice, eventually settling on this version. I have zero doubt in 2025 he would just release both discs instead.

Highlights: Why Can't I Be You? [Live]

5.5/10

Rarities 1988-89 - The Cure

I have the full set - the disc released with the reissue of Disintegration and then tracks released online only. Because I do not know what I am doing. This time there are not just instrumental demos, but also instrumental rehearsal tracks! Wow! And some guide tracks, before finishing off with a few live songs. One of my favourite albums of all time broken down into almost three hours of this kind of thing... Oh! This is the live version of Faith where Robert Smith goes on some bizarre rant about how to kill someone that is bigger than you and threatening you.

Highlights: Faith (Live Rome Palaeur 6/4/89– Crowd Bootleg), Prayers for Rain (Studio ‘WIP’ Mix 11/88), Disintegration (Live Dallas Starplex 9/15/89), Untitled (Live Dallas Starplex 9/15/89)

6/10

Rarities 1990-92 - The Cure

Even more instrumental demos! So many in this collection - they really could have just marketed it as a purely instrumental album. A few early demos, as well as some remixes or something. To be fair, the instrumentals are mostly songs not found elsewhere and make for great background music, and the remixes are of excellent songs. I am looking forward to another 3 hours being added to this collection later this year when they finally reissue Wild Mood Swings...

Highlights: Doing the Unstuck (Extended 12" Mix), From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea (Partscheckruf Mix), Friday I'm in Love (Strangelove Mix), A Letter to Elise (Blue Mix)

6.5/10

Rarities 1998-2003 - Ayumi Hamasaki

Part one of my personal compilation of b-sides and other things from Ayu. We get some Ayu rapping, two more versions of WHATEVER - and one of them is much more like an actual song than the album version - and the original version of Endless Sorrow is like a completely different song to what ends the I am... album. Keiko's terrible singing on A Song is Born actually makes it even more interesting? Like, I actually think I prefer this version - BECAUSE of how bizarre her vocal choices were.

Highlights: theme of a-nation '03, ever free, Endless Sorrow [Original Version], 『Ａ』

8.5/10

Rarities 2007-2015 - Ayumi Hamasaki

Part two is, in some ways, actually more impressive; it feature some epics and a few remixes/alternate versions. And a terrible song featuring Timmy and his terrible rapping. That abrubt ending on this version RED LINE ～for TA～ is... abrubt! And I could not really give you an honest answer as to which version of Tell All is the superior version. Both are very awesome.

Highlights: RED LINE ～for TA～, SEVEN DAYS WAR, Tell All, Tell All [2015 Mix], Dream On

8/10

Rarities Live Disc - Jimmy Barnes

This would appear to be from the Freight Train Heart tour - assuming it is all from one show. Barnes' voice is rough and rowdy and boy he could scream back then. So great when he hits those higher notes. That ending for Working Class Man could have gone longer if they had wanted, I would not complain.

Highlights: Working Class Man, Last Frontier, Too Much Ain't Enough Love, I'd Die to Be With You Tonight

8/10

Rarities Studio Disc - Jimmy Barnes

Mostly blues rock and a bit of that 90s rock sound. All very listenable.

Highlights: Broken Hearts

6.5/10

Rarities, B-Sides, and Other Stuff - Sarah McLachlan

What is it with these indie female singers and Gloomy Sunday? I think I prefer when McLachlan gets a bit angsty; she is great for that low-key vibe, for sure, but I am a simple fool that enjoys a bit of edge. Also, low key, we (as in, Sarah McLachlan and I) have a few songs with the same titles. Great minds think alike, or something.

Highlights: Dear God, Song for a Winter's Night, Drawn to the Rhythm [Live], Vox [Extended Remix]

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1380

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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 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 114

Live + 1 - Frehley's Comet
Ace and his band live - not really a lot to say. Except that I would likely rate the Greatest Hits Live album a bit higher. Oh, and the studio track is very good.
Highlights: Words Are Not Enough
7/10

Live Acoustic E.P. - Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan and a piano performing what sounds like a VERY small group of people. Nothing wrong with any of it, whatsoever.
Highlights: Building a Mystery
6.5/10

Live at Avatar Studios - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
It is all the between-song banter that I enjoy most. I would trade all the extended Grateful Dead-inspired jam endings for another few minutes of yelling out random stupid things like JIMMY HACKEYSACK and RHODA RO. I like Easy Tiger, so this is an Easy Pleaser for me. And that end solo for I Taught Myself How to Grow Old is amazing.
Highlights: I Taught Myself How to Grow Old, Goodnight Rose, Magnolia Mountain, Everybody Knows
7/10

Live at Glam Slam 1992 - Prince
This was part of the Diamonds and Pearls reissue a couple of years ago. It is a killer performance and Rosie Gaines is a the second star of the show. Prince is number one, of course. Some big long funky jams and high energy new jack swing action.
Highlights: Diamonds and Pearls, Jughead, 1999/Baby I'm a Star/Push, Cream/Well Done/I Want You/In the Socket
8/10

Live at The Apollo, Vol. II - James Brown
Bah gawd this album is just about the cold hard funkiest live album ever recorded. So many jams, I am sure everyone in the band got a couple of solos throughout. And those beats! You can not have hip-hop without sampling some of that.
Highlights: There Was a Time, Bring It Up, Sweet Soul Music, Maybe the Last Time
8.5/10

Live at the BBC - The Beatles
A very fine collection of The Beatles performing their early hits and some rock'n roll classics. It is a great showcase of how talented they were as musicians. And hilarious dudes all round, because the between-song banter is generally hilarious.
Highlights: Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby, Ticket to Ride, Matchbox, Slow Down, Honey Don't
7/10

Live at the BBC, Vol. 2 - Queen
This is a little LOGMAN collection of the extra BBC tracks found on all the reissue bonus discs. I would just get the On Air set, but I am really only missing a few now and I am sure they will be reissued in other ways. 
Highlights: We Will Rock You [Fast Version], Spread Your Wings, See What a Fool I've Been, Flick of the Wrist
8/10

Live at the Brixton Academy - Faith No More
Mike Patton sounds like he has cold or is just a terrible singer. I am guessing the latter. The funny thing is when he actually tries to sing something properly he sounds a million times better! I mean, this is just garbage. Wait - there are two bonus studio tracks? In 30 years this is my first time realising that. Perhaps even teenage LOGMAN could not make it through how bad this album was to hear them?
Highlights: The Cowboy Song
4/10

Live at the Rainbow: 31 March 1974 - Queen
More live Queen? Yes please! Especially this performance; Queen II is one of the greatest albums ever, so getting an actual concert from the tour supporting that album is great. And it is a pretty darn impressive performance - they sound absolutely massive and just nail everything.
Highlights: White Queen (As It Began), Father to Son, Ogre Battle, Son and Daughter
8/10

Live at the Rainbow: November 1974 - Queen
And Queen return some 8 months later to promote their Sheer Heart Attack album. Good for them! It is a little lacking compared to the previous show, but it is still pretty great. And boy this crowd are Jonesing for Liar the whole show. Pretty funny when Freddie just gives up trying to introduce it, because the crowd just will not stop yelling about it.
Highlights: The March of the Black Queen, Stone Cold Crazy, In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited
7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 995

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2025 in 2025: Day 80

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Trash...
AKA LOGMAN Does an Oopsie!

So, I spent 24 hours travelling and listening to all this music that I've been working my way through. Which is all fine and dandy. Being that I was travelling, I kept all my scores/ratings and ramblings in notes on my phone. And then the most hilarious thing happened and I had to restore my phone before being able to do a backup. Which meant I lost all my data from the last 6 months - including all the listening history! Now how will I know how many times I listened to ELLEGARDEN and Queen back in December?!?

So I lost about 2 weeks of listening time sorting this all out. Plus all this music I listened to while travelling and getting sorted? You guessed it - I will have to listen to it and rate it and discuss it all over again. Which is a shame, because I am sure my original bLogging would have been super entertaining and full of extremely witty dialogue. For sure...

So let's get back to it! We are almost 6 months into 2025 and I am still barely a third through this...

F is for FarOutIHaveToListenToTheseFTDAlbumsAgain!

FTD062: An American Trilogy, January/February 1972 - Elvis Presley

Another live compilation in the form of an actual live setlist. The recordings for the most part are really good and the band are seriously on fire! Elvis' voice is definitely not at its best, though.

Highlights: Never Been to Spain, You Gave Me a Mountain, A Big Hunk O' Love

6.5/10

FTD092: As Recorded At Boston Garden '71, Boston, 10 November 1971 - Elvis Presley

This show is mostly decent, but the recording/mix is just not great. Almost sounds like an audience recording? The crowd were certainly hot! Elvis didn't even kiss everyone during Love Me Tender. Anyways, clearly the real king of the garden was Bret Hart. Both Boston and Madison.

Highlights: You've Lost that Loving Feeling, I Can't Stop Loving You, Suspicious Minds

6/10

Full Blast - MC Hammer

Really just a glorified EP from the Hammerman; five songs and then the instrumental version of said five songs. Look, part of what I will always love about Hammer is that he works in such a great pop/dance vibe in the hip-hop. But when the man is angry and lets loose on his diss work, it goes hard!

Highlights: Full Blast, Hard Times, I Used to Love Her

7/10

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - Sarah McLachlan

Last time I was listening to this album, I was wandering around Shanghai airport. This has probably been a more focused listen, which is great, because this album is pretty good and at times I really like McLachlan's voice and delivery. And whatever is going on musically, for the most part. It has been too long now to compare these versions to those found on the Freedom Sessions album, so one day next year I will have to do a direct back-to-back listen and comparison.

Highlights: Possession, Wait, Circle, Ice Cream

7/10

Fun in Space - Roger Taylor

This album sounds exactly like it came from someone involved in the creation of Queen's Hot Space album. In fact, some of these songs sound like they were reworked for that album - because some of them sound very similar. Whenever I read this album title, I get confused and start singing Prime Jive to myself. Because there is that line Roger Taylor sings about "rock in space" and the full title of the song is Rock It (Prime Jive). Try to keep up, please...

Highlights: No Violins, Let's Get Crazy, Airheads

6/10

A Funk Odyssey - Jamiroquai

Bah gawd this album blew my mind back in 2002 and was responsible for me becoming a Jamiroquai fan. Rob Harris' guitar work is so unbelievably funky and out of this world. And that bass line on Love Foolosophy is super funky. And then Stop Don't Panic features the sort of funk guitar that completely changes the game. Intergalactic Disco Express, right here.

Highlights: Little L, Love Foolosophy, Don't Stop Panic, Main Vein

8/10

The Funky Headhunter - MC Hammer

Hammer sans MC has no time for suckers talking smack. For the longest time, I thought It's All Good was on Too Legit To Quit. Kids are stupid. Especially the kids not listening to this album, because it is super awesome. Sure, as usual some of the songs are a bit long, and the whole album probably could have been edited down a bit (18 tracks at 1 hour 15 is genuinely not necessary), and my man don't need to be making me choose a side between him and Run DMC. And Hammer for sure wasn't all talk; Redman is on the record that Hammer came to him personally and had him apologising for talking trash, because Hammer don't play like that. Y'all busters should have just let Hammer do his pop super hype dancing!

Highlights: It's All Good, Don't Stop, Break 'em Off Somethin' Propa, It's All That, The Funky Headhunter

7/10

FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

I gushed stupidly about this album back when my bLog was just getting started - almost 20 years ago! Does the album hold up in 2025? Well... yes. Absolutely. Losing My Way is mostly a cool song, but the lyrics are pretty cringe; there is nothing about JT that I find relatable to a broke meth addict. Somehow I have ended up with a censored version, which annoys me in all the ways you could imagine. And it has a bunch of remixes at the end that are all unnecessary. Especially the one featuring Beyoncé. But especially 50 Cent being super lewd and gross. Otherwise, it is still a very great album that I just need to get back to the original uncensored un-deluxe version.

Highlights: SexyBack, My Love, LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude), What Goes Around.../... Comes Around (Interlude)

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 648

2025 in 2025: Day 75

Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

A whole bunch of super cool riffs. These dudes were the kings of the mid-00s indie rock sound... for about 6 months.

Highlights: Jazqueline, Take Me Out, Auf Achse, Michael

8/10

Freaks (Radio Edit) [Single] - Timmy Trumpet & Savage

Savage has such a rad voice. And this song is still surprisingly enjoyable.

8/10

The Freddie Mercury Album - Freddie Mercury

What better way to cash in on a rock legend's death by releasing a compilation of solo songs and remixes a year after his passing? I still remember when The Great Pretender was released and people were shook at seeing Freddie without his moustache again. 

Highlights: In My Defence (Ron Nevison Mix), Barcelona, The Great Pretender, Time (Nile Rodgers Mix), Mr. Bad Guy (Brian Malouf Mix)

8/10

FREE URSELF [Single] - Prince

I won the gamble on this one.

9/10

The Freedom Sessions - Sarah McLachlan

Very chilled - even by Sarah McLachlan standards. Mostly acoustic versions of songs that I will listen to next week? So let's see what I think of them then!

Highlights: Mary, Good Enough, Ice Cream, Ol' 55

6.5/10

Frehley's Comet - Frehley's Comet

It feels like forever since I had some Kiss, so getting some Ace is a very welcome kick after the chill-ness of most of this morning's playlist. I don't think I mentioned this last time, but the original version of Into the Night was actually in an episode of Miami Vice. They should have used the Frehley's Comet version to make the show even more perfect.

Highlights: Rock Soldiers, Into The Night, Calling to You, Stranger in a Strange Land

8/10

Freight Train Heart - Jimmy Barnes

Fun fact: American Idol's Randy Jackson played bass on half of this album - I'm guessing it was when he was part of Journey, because they played on half of this album as well. They killed it. Bah gawd Driving Wheels just has the most driving rhythm section and kicks lots of butt. This whole album does, actually. 

Highlights: Driving Wheels, Last Frontier, Walk On, Seven Days

9/10

The Freightwhaler Sessions - Freight Whaler

How does it work having the name spelt two different ways? We are unable to agree on the spelling? Are DRA fans just annoying like that? This is actually... very good.

Highlights: Bar Lights, The Ghosts are Out Tonight, Sometimes That's Hard to Do

7.5/10

Friction, Baby - Better Than Ezra

I used to have this album, but then traded it in, because it is not very good. But I kept one song - Desperately Wanting. Because it IS very good.

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 616

2025 in 2025: Day 2

Aerosmith - Aerosmith
I am almost ashamed to admit this, but... this is probably the first time I'm ever listening to this album. Like, ever. I'm not sure how that happened? I had Aerosmith obsessed friends in high school. I was given all their albums probably close to 20 years ago. So I have absolutely no excuse. Anyways, I'm guessing this is Aerosmith's debut album? It's rad as hell and I should have been listening to this much sooner in life. I think I like the live version of Dream On more, but otherwise this is solid 70s rock good times!
Highlights: Make It, Mama Kin, LOGMAN waking up to the awesome of this album.
7.5/10

Affirmation - Savage Garden
Okay, so no, this is not the full album - simply the song Crash and Burn. There will be more like this, I'm sure. Darren Hayes is a phenomenal singer and seems like a decent dude, but I could never really get into Savage Garden. However, this song is very good.
8/10

Afterglow - Crowded House
This is some sort of rarities compilation released after the band split back in... 1996? It's almost 30 years later and they're still going again, albeit it is now just the Neil Finn Family Travelling Jamboree or something. There's a reason most of this was just b-sides and demos that didn't make the cut for their albums.
Highlights: Private Universe [Acoustic Version], Anyone Can Tell, Recurring Dream
6/10

Afterglow - Sarah McLachlan
Two albums with the same name? I wonder how many times that is going to happen... and things sure have chilled out this morning! This is a solid album, but I can't help feel like it is trying to go somewhere and then just kind of doesn't. Like, she was trying to push her sound a little further on this and then they got scared and decided to stick with the classic mellow Sarah McLachlan sound. Or that is just purely her sound and these couple of tracks were just exceptions? I don't know. Solid album, nonetheless.
Highlights: Fallen, Stupid, Time
7/10

Afterglow [Deluxe Edition] - Crowded House
The Afterglow tour continues! I had expected this album would have been made obsolete by Crowded House releasing all their deluxe edition albums. Instead, they doubled-down and made it a deluxe edition as well - adding a bonus disc of demos and then three great songs from somewhere that almost make this worthwhile.
Highlights: Anthem, Instinct, Everything is Good For You
6/10

Aggression - Various Artists
I'm not sure who put this on iTunes, to be honest, because I thought the album would be called WWF Aggression? And also, it is spelled "Agression" in iTunes?? Anyways, I didn't purchase the whole thing - just the Run-DMC remix of the D-Generation X theme song. It's my theme song now.
10/10

Aladdin Sane - David Bowie
David Bowie was the man. But, I actually don't recall the last time I listened to this album! I know it's iconic and all that, but I've never thought this was Bowie's best work. Definitely some killer stuff, and the lyrics to Time are just brilliantly bizarre.
Highlights: Watch That Man, Cracked Actor, Time, Let's Spend the Night Together, The Jean Genie
7.5/10

Aladdin Sane [30th Anniversary Bonus Disc] - David Bowie
This is some singles versions and live songs. The version of All The Young Dudes here is definitely not the best version. John, I'm Only Dancing seems to be my jam today!
Highlights: John, I'm Only Dancing [Saxophone Version]
6.5/10

Album - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Ooooh yeah! I love Joan Jett so much - a true pioneer and just a total badass. This album came after the success of I Love Rock'n Roll and feels a lot more raw, more rough. More punk rock. Well, the original songs do; the cover songs are all much more polished, which seems to be a constant with Joan Jett. Many songs that are just insulting a dude or dudes, so if you were a guy around Jett at this time, you should feel bad. I'm not a fan of Star, Star, personally. Otherwise this has become my favourite Joan Jett album over the years. This album is also a reminder that I need to split out the bonus tracks from these Joan Jett albums, because Had Enough is a perfect album ender and the bonus tracks after kill the vibe (and go on way too long).
Highlights: Fake Friends, Everyday People, A Hundred Feet Away, Secret Love, Coney Island Whitefish, Had Enough
7.5/10 (I'd easily go to 8 without the bonus tracks)

"Albums" listened to so far: 17