2025 in 2025: Day 72

The Final Countdown - Europe

Yeah, this is purely the title track. And it stomps. One of the most iconic intros of all time.

8/10

FiNAL SHiTS - BiSH

The beginning of the end (AKA BiSH is OVER) and while the main single is fine, the b-side is actually way cooler. Go figure.

Highlights: NOT FOREVER

8/10

Final Straw - Snow Patrol

I forgot how great most of this album actually is. Great lyrics, interesting vocal delivery (in the sense that he's almost just talking softly mostly the time), and rocking numbers without rocking too hard. Then coupled with a few epic kind of ballads and some lo-fi chill as well.

Highlights: How to Be Dead, Chocolate, Run, Spitting Games, Same

8/10

Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces - Seether

No idea how or why I have this. Luckily, it is just one song - Fake It.

5/10

Firestarr - Fredro Starr

I think this dude was on like Moesha or something? He's like DMX-lite and he is Dyin' 4 Rap. But the dude was down with JMJ, so that will always win points with me.

8/10

The First Recording - Heather Nova

Even back when her name was Heather Frith. Very simple acoustic numbers.

Highlights: These Walls

6.5/10

FIVE - Ayumi Hamasaki

The most perfect Ayu E.P.? Dance rock, fun bop, epic power ballad, beautiful ballad and then just epic over the top nonsense?

Highlights: progress, Why..., beloved

10/10

Fixurlifeup [Single] - 3RDEYEGIRL

One of my gripes with Prince in the modern-era was his inconsistency when it came to singles; sometimes they were just a single, sometimes they would end up on an album. So you just had to play roulette with buying the single and hope it didn't end up on an album. And, of course, this one did.

7/10

Flame Vein +1 - Bump of Chicken

Something about Bump of Chicken I can't put my finger on... like, they are good, and I enjoy listening to them... but nothing ever really stands out that much?

Highlights: ガラスのブルース, アルエ, ノーヒットノーラン, ナイフ, バトルクライ

7/10

Flaming Schoolgirls - The Runaways

I love The Runaways, but this really is a weird compilation; The Beatles' covers are not good and the Hollywood Cruisin' skit is just pointless, but then we get some cool live tracks that absolutely rock. They could have just added them to the Live in Japan album - a deluxe edition of that would be most welcome.

Highlights: C'mon, Blackmail, Is It Day or Night?, Secrets

6.5/10

Flash Back Summer End [Single] - INKYMAP

Nothing like some quickfire INKYMAP to rock the summer party. Honoh is not like anything else they've ever released.

Highlights: Flash Back Summer End, Honoh

8/10

Flash Gordon (Original Soundtrack) - Queen

I remember a while back this album started getting a bit of a resurgence with internet nerds or something. There are really only two actual songs on here. And the versions of Flash's Theme are both different structurally to the single version. It has been a very long time since I watched the film, but I feel like this soundtrack moves in chronological order?

Highlights: Flash's Theme, The Hero, Football Fight, Battle Theme, Flash's Theme Reprise

7/10

Flashback - Joan Jett

A whole bunch of random Joan Jett tracks. Some are worthwhile, some are just kinda there. Which is always the case with these kinds of compilations. And, let's be honest, most of Joan Jett's albums. However, I forgot about Joan rapping and that is the greatest moment of the 80s.

Highlights: Be My Lover, Black Leather, Light of Day, MCA

7.5/10

Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture - Various Artists

Would you believe that this is not the complete album? Particularly when there are so many great musicians involved with it. I should turn in my 80s membership...

Highlights: Flashdance... What a Feeling - Irene Cara, Maniac - Michael Sembello

9/10

Flavors of Entanglement - Alanis Morissette

Alanis going full in to electropop. Guy Sigsworth's production and just general song-shaping hold up - this album does not really sound dated at all. Today seems to be a day for forgotten gems in my library.

Highlights: Underneath, Versions of Violence, Tapes, Incomplete

7/10

Flavors of Entanglement (Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc) - Alanis Morissette

These are the most middle of the road bonus tracks one could ask for. Alanis enjoys tequila.

Highlights: Limbo No More

6/10

Flesh & Wood - Jimmy Barnes

Barnesy goes unplugged. Covers and collabs and reworkings. I could do without the fiddle, because that makes things a bit more country, but otherwise this is all pretty decent.

Highlights: The Weight, Ride the Night Away, Fade to Black, Still Got a Long Way to Go

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 583

2025 in 2025: Day 68

Exit The Dragon - Urge Overkill

This album has the weird vibe of being super low-fi and indie sounding, while simultaneously being wholly overproduced. It was the end of grunge, so it all makes sense. It was also probably the last album I bought on cassette! These might not be their best work, but there are some seriously glorious moments of awesome riffs in otherwise average songs - that kind of bridge part in This Is No Place being a prime example. And who else could make a compelling song about playing Monopoly?

Highlights: The Break, Take Me, Last Night/Tomorrow, And You'll Say

8/10

Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix - Jimi Hendrix

Where is Hollywood Hogan and his WCW belt-strumming? Legit never get tired of hearing that. But I would probably say All Along the Watchtower features some of the coolest guitaring of the 60s.

Highlights: All Along the Watchtower, Little Wing, Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Purple Haze, Fire

7/10

Exposed - Vince Neil

I actually dig this album a lot; it is Vince Neil just doing the stereotypical 80s hair metal - because that is all he knows - and Steve Stevens is just the absolute greatest. He is all over this album, writing cool riffs and shredding up a storm and making crazy sounds that lazer noises with his guitar. Despite that, I still prefer the Encino Man version of You're Invited (But You're Friend Can't Come), but otherwise this a very cool album. If you dig 80s hair metal... which people in 1993 did not, so much.

Highlights: Look in Her Eyes, The Edge, You're Invited (But You're Friend Can't Come), Forever

8/10

Extra Texture - George Harrison

Since the great disbanding of The Beatles, this was Harrison's most... average album. I think the critiscm and failure of Dark Horse left him going very middle of the road on this one. There are still some great moments, but that is just my assumption. Might even just be the production, because the 'Platinum Weird' version of This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying) is a bit of an improvement over the original.

Highlights: You, The Answer's at the End, A Bit More of You, This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying) [Platinum Weird Version]

7/10

Extraordinary Machine - Fiona Apple

I don't really have much to say about this album. As good as Fiona Apple can be, this album is mostly songs that don't quite reach the heights they possibly could have. Lyrically, she is still top tier - as evidenced in songs like Red Red Red.

Highlights: Oh Well, Please Please Please, Red Red Red

6.5/10

Extreme - Extreme

One of the interesting things in the rock/metal world over the last few years is seeing people finally give Nuno Bettencort the respect he deserves - but only because he threw away what made him so awesome and just decided to shred the universe to pieces on a guitar solo. What I love about him is how awesome he clearly is, while still playing super tastefully on tracks. And then melting faces on songs like Play With Me. This album is good fun cheese. I kind of miss using the Kid Ego moniker for music and everything, but I am not a kid anymore...

Highlights: Kid Ego, Watching Waiting, Mutha (Don't Wanna Go to School Today), Play With Me

8/10

Extremely Live - Vanilla Ice

So you are the biggest star in pop/rap with a few number one singles, a number one album, a successful tour, and what do you do to follow up? A bad live album! I guess this probably came after Cool As Ice, but that was also far from a raving success. In fairness, there are a few "new" songs on here, but why not record them properly and release a new album? Or even an E.P.? And then throw on your 10-minute version of Ice Ice Baby as a bonus track or something. 

Highlights: Ice Ice Baby [Miami Drop Mix], Road to My Riches, Satisfaction [Studio Version]

6/10

Eyes Open - Snow Patrol

I had a thing for Snow Patrol after Final Straw and this album was some sort of worldwide smash because of that sad song being in Grey's Anatomy. That kind of killed them for me. Also my iTunes has labelled this album as "Alternative & Punk" and I find that personally offensive.

Highlights: Hands Open, Chasing Cars, It's Beginning to Get to Me, Open Your Eyes

6/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 544