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 103

J is for JustAnother13000SongsToGo

J・A・M - JUDY AND MARY
YUKI is the stuff. Punk YUKI swearing and shouting is even better. Dang this band were so fun!
Highlights: Judy is a Tank Girl, Power of Love, Lolita A-Go-Go, Glamour Punks
7/10

Jackie - Joanne [Single]
Ooooh yeah a dance classic!
9/10

Jacksonville City Nights - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
This is the most pure and country this dude did and I actually dig it. Still, even! The Follow the Lights version of Dear John is way betterer in parts, but I def get chills at the end of the last verse on this one - credit to Norah Jones' delivery, there. The distortions and stuff just adds to the charm here.
Highlights: The End, Hard Way to Fall, The Hardest Part, Withering Heights, Don't Fail Me Now
8/10

Jacksonville City Nights: Rarities - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
These are great, too! The electric version of September is probably one of the best songs on both versions of the album. This version of Always on My Mind is a masterpiece.
Highlights: September [Alternate Take], Always on My Mind, What Sin Replaces Love (both versions, dammit)
7.5/10

Jacksonville: Paxam Singles Series, Vol. 2 - Ryan Adams
What is this, some sort of Ryan Adams vs Jacksonville documentary?
Highlights: That initial surprise when this was released? Mr. Walkedypants is admittedly quite funny
6/10

Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette
The angsty album that all angsty albums are measured against. And they are never going to match it, because no one else is doing it as openly and honestly as Alanis.
Highlights:
9/10

Jagged Little Pill [Acoustic] - Alanis Morissette
Alanis is older and not so angry ten years later, so instead she tries to sing the songs more perfectly. Which also means almost no emotion. Which is the thing that made Jagged Little Pill so awesome. This version of Perfect is actually a million times better, though. Otherwise, some of the arrangements are just cheesy.
Highlights:
7/10

James Brown's Funky People - Various Artists
I do not entirely recall how I discovered this compilation, but I do recall it was one of the first things I ever bought on iTunes. And it is a stellar collection of the biggest stone cold funkiest grooves you could ever find.
Highlights: Gimme Some More - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, Damn Right I am Somebody Pts 1 & 2 - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, Givin Up Food for Funk Pt 1 - The J.B.'s, (It's Not the Express) It's the JB's Monorail Pt 1 - The J.B.'s
9/10

James Brown's Funky People, Vol. 2 - Various Artists
Less J.B.'s, more Bobby Byrd and Maceo. More of a heavier funk kind of thing, but still a hell of a groove. 
Highlights: You Can Have Watergate Just Gimme Some Bucks and I'll Be Straight Pt. 1 - The J.B.'s, Cross the Tracks (We Better Go Back) - Maceo and The Macks, I'm Paying Taxes What Am I Buying - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s, Blow Your Head - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s
8/10

Japanese Complete Level 1, Adj & Adv - VocabuLearn
This is one of many little lessons I would listen to on my walk to & from work to try and build my vocabulary. Whether it not worked is certainly up for debate. It mixes up going from English to Japanese, and then Japanese to English. Exciting!
7/10

Japanese Complete Level 1, Nouns - VocabuLearn
I tend to do better with the nouns. I think maybe I did these lessons more? Or I just use the words more often in conversation?
7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 887

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2025 in 2025: Day 100

If I Can Dream EP - Elvis Presley

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

10/10

If I Die Tomorrow - Mötley Crüe

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

6/10

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

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

Highlights: To, Not, Be, Time, Then

7.5/10

III - Ryan Adams

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

Highlights: Wasteland, Stop Playing With My Heart, Users

7/10

III: Temples of Boom - Cypress Hill

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

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

7/10

Ill Communication - Beastie Boys

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

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

8.5/10

Ill Communication (2009 Remastered Edition) - Beastie Boys

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

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

7/10

Imagine - John Lennon

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

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

7.5/10

" Albums" listened to so far: 838

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2025 in 2025: Day 73

Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords

Nothing like starting the day with some relaxed comedy music. 

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

6.5/10

FLY - YUKI

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

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

6.5/10

Folie À Deux - Fall Out Boy

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

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

8/10

Follow the Leader - KoЯn

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

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

5/10

Follow the Lights - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

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

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

9/10

Fool for the City - Foghat

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

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

7.5/10

Fool's Gold - Ryan Adams

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

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

5/10

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

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

Highlights: Footloose - Kenny Loggins

8/10

For the Working Class Man - Jimmy Barnes

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

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

8/10

Fore! - Huey Lewis and The News

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

10/10

Foreign Affair - Tina Turner

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

9/10

Forever - Spice Girls

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

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

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 595

2025 in 2025: Day 60

E.T. (feat. Kanye West) [Single] - Katy Perry

Even when I didn't think Kanye was a nutjob that should be ignored, I preferred the album version of this song. And I felt very awkward rapping his part in front of little kids. 

8/10

E=MC² - Mariah Carey

I remember the video for Touch My Body being completely hilarious. That intro for Side Effects sounds like the opening for a song by The Lonely Island. I do enjoy that all throughout this album some dude just keeps randomly yelling "M.C." And what does "O.O.C." stand for?

Highlights: Touch My Body, Cruise Control, I'm That Chick, Last Kiss, Thanx 4 Nothin'

7/10

Early Takes - George Harrison

Acoustic demos and alternate takes, mostly from the All Things Must Pass sessions. The acoustic takes are good for more of a focus on the lyrics and George's singing. These definitely showcase how great he actually was.

Highlights: I'd Have You Anytime [Early Take], All Things Must Pass [Demo], My Sweet Lord [Demo], Mama You've Been on My Mind [Demo], Woman Don't You Cry For Me [Early Take]

8/10

Earthling - David Bowie

Little Wonder is so schizophrenic; when it came out, I actually could not get past the verses, which is sad because if I had I would have realised how great that 'chorus' is. I'm Afraid of Americans never stops being awesome and just gets truer every day. This album is WAY betterer than I have ever given it credit for.

Highlights: Seven Years in Tibet, I'm Afraid of Americans, Looking For Satellites, Battle For Britain (The Letter)

8/10

East - Cold Chisel

The most classic Australian rock album by the most classic Australian rock band. And I feel like Cheap Wine might even be the most classic Australian rock song?

Highlights: Standing on the Outside, My Baby, Cheap Wine, My Turn to Cry

7.5/10

East of the Sun, West of the Moon - a-ha

This is certainly not their finest hour.

Highlights: Slender Frame, Cold River, Rolling Thunder, (Seemingly) Nonstop July

6/10

East Side Story - DJ Reggie

Not even this delicious bottle Pepsi Zero Peach can make me understand how I thought this was fun.

Highlights: Revenge of the Ninja, Kick Em' in the Dungeon

3.5/10

Easy Tiger - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Look, I can be fair to this guy and still say that his songs are great when they are. And some of these songs are absolutely brilliant. Two features probably his most honest line ever. My only criticism is going to be the drums, because they sound blurgh. But gawdam the harmonies and vocals are very good. Actually, the more truthful line is in These Girls: "These girls are better off in my head". Any woman would be better off not dealing with you in real life, buddy!

Highlights: Goodnight Rose, Two, Oh My God Whatever Etc., The Sun Also Sets, I Taught Myself How to Grow Old

8/10

Easy Tiger Rarities - Ryan Adams

These are fine, I guess? One of the songs was actually re-released with a different title, but there is absolutely no difference between the two except for the title.

Highlights: Alice

6/10

echo - CHARA+YUKI

Two indie pop queens uniting to make an E.P. - 20 years in the making, since they actually recorded the first song back in 1999. And I'm pretty sure they were in a punk band together around then? Anyways, lucky for me, YUKI seems to drive this or at least it all sounds like a YUKI kind of album. And the good kind, too.

Highlights: 愛の火 3つ オレンジ (2020version), 楽しい蹴伸び, Night Track, echo

8.5/10

Echo - Leona Lewis

Gawdam whatta voice! And mostly great songs... that all sound the same. So if you want epic pop songs with massive vocals, then this is a great album. I like those things, so thumbs up from me! Even an Oasis cover thrown in for fun? And yes, that was also epic (though I probably prefer the Oasis version, because Liam's voice not so perfect).

Highlights: Happy, I Got You, My Hands, Broken, Lost Then Found

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 485

2025 in 2025: Day 38

Cold Roses - Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

I want to say bad things about this album. I really do. But it still holds up as an awesome piece of work. From song one, this album is brilliant. And by the time I reach simply the ending of Cherry Lane (which is amazing), I am once again convinced this album is very very good. Certainly a high point of The Cardinals - it was their first album and they never topped it. Heck, I'm not sure they did anything that even came close to matching it. 

Highlights: Meadowlake Street, Let It Ride, If I Am a Stranger, Life is Beautiful

9/10

Cold Roses Rarities - Ryan Adams and The Cardinals

I checked my marathon notes and was surprised at how little I wrote about Cold Roses. And I stand by what I wrote about these songs; they really sound like they have zero to do with that album and are mostly not good.

Highlights: Nope

5/10

Cold Spring Harbor - Billy Joel

Dude is doing his best Paul McCartney impersonation throughout this album; then I realise it was recorded and released in 1971, so The Beatles being a massive influence is not really a surprise. This is mostly acoustic; simply Billy Joel singing while accompanied on piano or guitar, though a few songs have some overdubs and whatnot. Overall, it makes for a very simple and relaxed debut album that is not too dissimilar in parts to Elton John's 70s work.

Highlights: You Can Make Me Free, Turn Around

6/10

Collected Works 1962-1990 - George Harrison

I really need to clean this up; I'm certain I have 95% of these songs elsewhere and in better quality, so not sure why I still have it. It would have saved me about 5 hours of listening time today! That said, going chronologically through the career of George Harrison is a pretty decent way to spend 5 hours... I'm curious as to what some of these sources were, because some have different lead ins and It's All Too Much has a very extended outro. Ditto for Something. And then they end super abruptly. I am now convinced Blue Jay Way could have been a much better song. "Without going out of my door/I can know all things of Earth" - George predicting the internet in 1968. Once The Beatles meet their end, it's on to an endless supply of demos - including some jamming with Bob Dylan! That demo of Dark Horse sure gives a good idea of how the song/album could have sounded if George had stayed healthy. And once we hit the 80s, there seem to be a bunch of songs that I am actually not all that familiar with?!? Like, are these b-sides or outtakes or something? And we finish things off with the extended Traveling Wilburys singles. Some neat little surprises on here!

Highlights: Dehra Dun, Dark Horse (Demo), Flying Hour, Lay His Head, Sat Singing, Cheer Down [Because these are all rarities]

7/10

A Collection - Third Eye Blind

This is not the actual album they released, merely a collection of their b-sides/rarities that I collected and then threw under that album title to keep them in one nice place. And it only covers 1997 to around 2005? Well, that was peak 3eb, so that makes sense. Because these songs are all awesome; fun punk rock, good upbeat pop rock, stupid immature Xmas songs, ridiculous sad songs. These cover all the Third Eye Blind genres.

Highlights: New Girl, Christmas Reincarnated, Persephone, Eye Conqueror

8/10

The Collection - Alanis Morissette

As you can expect about now, this is only the songs that aren't on an actual album. Which is not many. Quality over quantity, mofos! Still is about as awesome as Alanis gets this side of Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. I have no idea where this live version of Dear Prudence came from. Did I just get obsessed with the song so much that I looked up live versions by my favourite artists? It is underwhelming - particularly after the supreme awesome that is Uninvited.

Highlights: Still, Uninvited

9/10

'Albums' listened to so far: 320

2025 in 2025: Day 33

The Captain & The Kid - Elton John

An Englishman singing about how wonderful New York City is always makes me curious. But then, I'm not about to make a song about anywhere in NZ, so probably more likely write a song about the joys of visiting another planet. And Elton John has likely been to New York a few more times than I've been to Jupiter, so I guess I'll allow it. This album is genuinely decent, I just have a lot to criticise (e.g. the trite lyrics, the blatant similarities to other Elton John songs, his's vocals eating an autotune salad), but I'll let him slide today.

Highlights: Just Like Noah's Ark, And the House Fell Down, The Captain & The Kid

6.5

Car Wash - Christina Aguilera & Missy Elliot

This is the kind of Christina I like. Or is it just that I really like Missy Elliot? Because she da bomb. This is not as awesome as the original, but still enjoyable.

7/10

Cardinology - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

This is the album where DRA started singing like he can't sing? I never really noticed it before. Very Neil Young. Somewhat enjoyable album - feels not so pretentious, perhaps?

Highlights: Go Easy, Fix It, Magick, Sink Ships

6.5/10

Cardinology Rarities - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

Not much to say here; these are not that great. Except the weird version of Fix It. That is actually very great!

Highlights: Fix It

4/10

Caribou - Elton John

More Elton John is always welcome. Especially if it involves 70s or 80s Elton John. Bernie Taupin sure likes talking about very American things, doesn't he? Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me is great and all, but George Michael's version is actually better. George Michael's versions of most things were better. Hot take: the bonus tracks are better than anything on the album.

Highlights: The Bitch is Back, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, Ticking

7/10 (6/10 without bonus tracks)

Carl Carlton - Carl Carlton

But not really? I mean, it is the artist Carl Carlton, but I don't think both of these songs are from that album. I need to sort out a Carl Carlton collection, because the dude was a disco-funk master. And these will be the best songs I will listen to today.

Highlights: Everlasting Love, She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)

10/10

Carnival of Souls - Kiss

Hahaha what a change of pace. I have discussed this album in detail. It's a bit all over the place, in that Kiss seemed to lose their identity. That doesn't mean it is bad as such, just not your typical Kiss cool-times,

Highlights: Hate, Childhood's End, Jungle, I Confess, I Walk Alone

6.5/10

Carnival, Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant - Wyclef Jean

Wyclef is not someone I would say I think is awesome, but when I listen to this album, I think he is probably better than I would think. I like that he likes to announce whenever he's going to jam a guitar solo - feels very 80s rock of him. Quite an eclectic styling of an album. And Sweetest Girl is one hell of a jam.

Highlights: Riot, Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill), Slow Down, Hollywood Meets Bollywood (Immigration)

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 275

Random Thoughts from a Ryan Adams Marathon: Day 8

The Shit continued

* Slef Portrait seems to be a concept album around killing someone and needing to go to the hospital

* The Movie is the best. Like, I could listen to this a lot more. KING FUCKING KONG!!!

Back to Ryan Adams (and The Cardinals)
 

* Riffage is quite nice little instrumental tracks

* Easy Tiger is another album that gets a bad rap and I don't get. I really like the fact that it is a kind of diverse album instead of sticking to one style. But then I think most of the people complaining are people that just want Ryan Adams doing alt. country like Whiskeytown or Heartbreaker. I like other music so I'm fine. The Sun Also Sets is one of my favourite songs. LOVE the end harmonies.

* Easy Tiger Rarites are interesting and actually fit with the overall sound of Easy Tiger, but mostly because Easy Tiger is so diverse. Strange to have Lovely and Blue on here called France but be the exact same song found later on III

* Curtain of Light (Live at the Avatar Studios) is a live in-studio performance of the Easy Tiger album that was done as some sort of promo tool. And it is quite good. Mostly because I like Easy Tiger. And the random garbage Ryan Adams yells inbetween songs is hilarious (like "STAB ME IN THE FUCKIN EYE WITH THE... FUCKIN... EMPIRE STATE BUILDING". The version of These Girls on here is flat out insane. And I Taught Myself How To Grow Old contains one of the greatest guitar solos on the planet. Ending with 2 tracks from Cold Roses is certainly odd, but Magnolia Mountain is pretty darn awesome here so I'll let it slide.

* III/IV were recorded around this time, so I've put them here instead of later when they were actually released. Listening in this order they actually almost fit with the theme of earlier. Some of these tracks were used for the various internet artists, as well as the Elizabethtown/Darkbreaker sessions. I mostly prefer these versions. Wasteland is one of my most favourite songs these days. III is pretty good, but I actually really like IV. It rocks. Thinking about it now, this actually should have gone before Easy Tiger. Oops.

* Follow the Lights is a really nice chill out kind of EP. The versions of This Is It and Dear John are really awesome. I'd really like to write a song like Blue Hotel... Oh wow, I totally forgot there is an awesome version of If I Am A Stranger on here as well. Damn.

* Cardinology is great. Again, undeserved bad rap for this album. Some awesome songs, some kinda average, but not bad by any stretch.

* Cardinology Rarities are quite fun. Memory Lane is a very nice song... Asteroid is rockin'. I need to find out what this version of Fix It is, because it is crazy cool.

* Dear Impossible Foggy Mountain is just a bunch of meaningless demos. Nothing to see here...

* Class Mythology however, is very compelling. Your Name Is On Fire is a fantastic song. Neat acoustic numbers.

* Destroyers has a really cool bridge

* The Blue Canoe probably could have been good

* Fortress of the Spider God is a pleasant instrumental...

* The Pax-Am Singles are mostly great. A couple of re-recorded songs, some cool acoustic demos, and awesome songs like Disco Queen and People Need Sunlight. Is cool to see this series return (see end of marathon).

* Orion is a sci-fi metal concept album. I've been dying to hear this... and I am not disappointed - just as hilariously fun as I expected. Even includes a new mix of Fire & Ice, which will now get played more than the Warren Peace version.

* This Is 40 Soundtrack contains 2 live songs; Lucky Now, which seems to contain some pedal steel guitar that isn't in the studio version (which we'll get to next album, I think), and Shining Through the Dark which I don't think is available elsewhere - would love to hear a studio version of this. Great songs. And best parts of that movie by far.

* Ashes & Fire is sort of a return to that 'roots' sound, I guess. I think it was just his hearing problems forced him to strip back the sound. Mostly great songs like the title track and Lucky Now (which is just downright brilliant) except some songs I couldn't even tell you how they go 3 years later. That's not exactly a great thing.

* Ashes & Fire Extra Tracks are really good. Darkness is incredible.

* Empty Room/Nutshell are both very good, though I would take the original Alice In Chains recording of Nutshell over this any day

* Wasted Years is downright incredible. Still blows my mind.

* Vampire Weekend Covers are just kinda fun. I don't know the originals so don't really care too much.

* 1984 is the first in the renewed 7" series. And it kicks all kinds of ass all over the fucking world. 11 songs, 12 minutes long. Just so much motherfuckingawesomeness. Rats In The Wall is my number one song right fucking now. Yes I am excited by this THAT MUCH

* Ryan Adams is the latest album. This is my first listen. Really like the first and last songs. Couldn't tell you much more than that right now. Something about this reminds me of Pearl Jam when they started making albums like No Code and all their fans decided it was boring. I'm not complaining, because No Code still stands as my favourite Pearl Jam album. Not saying this is my new favourite album but you get what I'm saying. Or not. Talk to me about your problems...

And there we have it - the marathon is...

Wait, what?

* Jacksonville is the next 7" single released on iTunes. I JUST MADE NO SENSE BECAUSE THAT IS 3 DIGITAL COMPUTER FILES NOT A 7 INCH RECORD. Anyways, this is way more like classic alt country Ryan Adams, though still with the low voice. And then Mr. Walkedypants is just hilarious. Though is he actually insulting John Lennon? DON'T MAKE ME PICK A SIDE!!!

So there we go. 1034 songs listened to. And I didn't get bored, probably because it is mostly different songs and styles. That is why I enjoy the music of Ryan Adams so much. Not sure why these turned into mini reviews , but whatever. It's my job and I will waste time how I want.

I might do this again and compare my thoughts.
Until, I'll be sitting in the corner listening to Honky Tonk Ba-Donkey Kong very loudly on repeat.