2025 in 2025: Day 171

Strawberry Margarita [Single] - ELLEGARDEN

Bah gawd how to start a day; when this single hit, my friend and I immediately messaged each other to say "THEY ARE BACK!" and it was fucking glorious. 

10/10

Streetcore - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

One thing you have to give to Joe Strummer is that he did not shy away from attempting all sorts of musical styles; The Clash were a veritable mish-mash of punk, ska, reggae, and all sorts of pop silliness at the end. And this album just continues that trend. And through it all, he still just sounds punk all the way.

Highlights: Coma Girl, Arms Aloft

6.5/10

Streetlife Serenade - Billy Joel

This dude clearly likes to name his albums starting with an S! I feel like he had been listening to a lot of Elton John here...

Highlights: Los Angelenos, Roberta

6.5/10

Stripped - Christina Aguilera

An absolute pop classic of the early-00s. I have certainly soured on everything she has done apart from this album - and it is pretty far from perfect, as well - but there is no denying her voice was iconic and some of these songs are just top-tier awesomeness.

Highlights: Fighter, Cruz, Dirrty, Get Mine Get Yours

7.5/10

Stripped: Raw and Real - Bon Jovi

Lost Highway-era Bon Jovi doing a live performance - the "Stripped" moniker seems to imply some type of acoustic thing, but Sambora clearly was not interested in that. He is cool and makes everything better for Bon Jovi, so I will allow it.

Highlights: Whole Lot Of Leavin' [Live], Wanted Dead Or Alive [Live]

6/10

Stull - Urge Overkill

I actually only have the one song from this - Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon. It has grown on me over the years, but I will always prefer Urge Overkill just being Urge Overkill instead.

7/10

Subarashiki Sekai - Pile

I only have the one song from this EP - Duel. I think the rest is on the album Tailwind(s). In fact, this song in full is as well. Talk to me about your problems...

8/10

Sueño de la Máquina - Kinky

Driving bass, funky beats, dreamy vocals and big synths. Probably their most consistent album - the whole thing is just a big electro Latin jam from start to finish.

Highlights: Perfecta, Se Borró la Noche, Alma de Neón, Después del After, Inmóvil

7.5/10

Sugar Ray - Sugar Ray

This is purely Answer the Phone. And in crap quality. It is unbelievable that this is the same hilariously awful nu-metal from the late 90s.

8/10

The Suicide Handbook - Ryan Adams

I find it hard to believe this really was how the album was supposed to be released. It is all so minimal and acoustic - it all just sounds like a big bag of demos. But then I remember that some of these were released as is on Demolition, so maybe? But 90 minutes of this is a bit much.

Highlights: Cry on Demand, Wild Flowers, For No One, Miss Sunflower

7/10

Suit - Nelly

This is not one of Nelly's albums that I have listened to all that much, but I have to admit that it is pretty darn groovy. Nelly just does his usual thing - he pretty much has the same melody in every song here - but what can you do?

Highlights: Over and Over, My Place, Paradise, N Dey Say

7/10

Summer Again [Single] - Ayumi Hamasaki

I was sure I had removed all the single doubles caused by the Remember you album, but I must have been wrong. This song is kind of fine? Trying way too hard to be a Summer dance anthem or something.

6.5/10

Summer Trap!! - WANIMA

Pre-COVID world was something else and it is hard for me to believe this EP came out right before the last Summer before it all. It is so wild and energetic. The whole thing personifies the sound of Summer - take that, Ayu!

Highlights: GONG, 夏のどこかへ, Mom

10/10

Sunburn - Fuel

I only have one song, which is surprising - I thought there were songs from this album. I recall the rest being total garbage, but I may have to revisit to make sure. Anyways, this is Shimmer. In another surprising moment, I think the song holds up!

8/10

Sunshower - Chris Cornell

I know I have the whole CD, but I think I just cut out the different versions of this song. Because this song is a masterpiece and the coda on the LP version is perfection. Gawdam Chris Cornell was the voice of my generation.

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1640

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2025 in 2025: Day 159

sabotage - 緑黄色社会

I think this may have been their last great single? Suitably epic and grand. It was the theme for a pretty fun drama about some people learning to play the violin. The b-side is killer. Then there are some pretty decent live songs as well.

Highlights: sabotage, Alright

7/10

Saints of Los Angeles - Mötley Crüe

The Crüe return with their first album with the original lineup in 10 years. And it is the follow-up to Dr. Feelgood they should have released in 1991; very old school hair metal, lots of swearing, Tommy Lee doing massive drum fills, and just all round a badass attitude. Good times!

Highlights: Down at the Whiskey, Motherfucker of the Year, Saints of Los Angeles, Goin' Out Swingin'

8/10

Sam's Town - The Killers

Their debut album was so amazing that this was never going to live up to it, so I was certainly disappointed on release. A few goods songs, but what I really liked about that first album was missing from this. This feels a bit more radio rock, less new wave dark romantic. Little did I know that it was all downhill from here...

Highlights: Bling (Confession of a King), When You Were Young, My List, Why Do I Keep Counting?

7.5/10

Sandinista! - The Clash

Well, this certainly was ambitious! And in no possible way can I see the reason this needed to be so massive. A lot of weirdness, a lot of different styles, a lot of just mediocre songs. I could remove two albums' worth of material and still barely get a good album out of this.

Highlights: Something About England, Somebody Got Murdered, Let's Go Crazy, Police on My Back, Washington Bullets, Charlie Don't Surf, Lose This Skin

5/10

Sap - Alice In Chains

Another mostly acoustic EP. This time the songs are pretty are far more chilled.

Highlights: Got Me Wrong, Brother, Am I Inside

6.5/10

Saturation - Urge Overkill

Supposedly alternative grunge but super overproduced? Yes indeed. Super awesome? Absolutely! These guys were such a vibe. And had the hooks to match.

Highlights: Sister Havana, Nite and Grey, Crackbabies, Positive Bleeding

8/10

Saudades De Rock - Extreme

I am generally one of Extreme's biggest supporters, but I do generally find Gary Cherone's voice on this album not so great. That said, the album still rocks pretty hard. And the ending on that coda is just beautiful.

Highlights: King of the Ladies, Interface, Peace (Saudade)

7/10

Savage - Eurythmics

An 80s new wave essay on feminism. Far more experimental musically than their previous album - so completely different to Revenge or Be Yourself Tonight, which were just straight pop. And I love it all the more for these reasons.

Highlights: You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart, Shame, Savage, I've Got a Lover (Back in Japan)

8/10

Save Rock and Roll - Fall Out Boy

FOB return with a full on dance rock kind of album. It is like a dark Summer jam all over; you just want to party, but with a serious edge. It's Courtney, bitch!

Highlights: Save Rock and Roll, Rat A Tat, My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up), Alone Together

8/10

Sawdust - The Killers

Two albums in to their career and already throwing out a b-sides and rarites compilation? That should have been another warning. At least being so early in their career it is mostly still pretty dark and more in the vein of their debut album. This version of Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll is inferior to the version on my copy of Hot Fuss. Under the Gun and Move Away are also re-recorded; I should find the original versions, because I do like those songs.

Highlights: Under the Gun, Change Your Mind, Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf, Shadowplay

6.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1469

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2025 in 2025: Day 117

Live: Medianrum Forumassago, Milan 03-11-2010 - Prince

This an example of a very listenable audience recording. It is not perfect by any stretch, but certainly gives a decent account of what the show was like. And this show is Prince tearing up the sky with his telecaster. The man is clearly in a groove, because it is not until song five that he actually plays one of his own tracks. And his playing has all the feel and funk you could imagine. 

Highlights:

8/10

Live: Omaha to Osaka - L7

Having a marching band perform a medley of L7 songs is definitely a way to start a live show. Not sure what their beef with Dave Mustaine and Megadeth was. Sure, Crush 'Em was not the best entrance theme for Goldberg, but that is no reason to keep ripping on the dude in Omaha. They sure did not have anything to say about him in Osaka. Instead they.. .bitch about people asking for Shitlist. Rude. You played that for the clowns in Omaha! I guess that was their prize for not going to see Megadeth!

Highlights: Deathwish, Drama, Non-Existent Patricia, Shitlist, Fast and Frightening

7/10

Live: Palalottomatica, Rome 02-11-2010 - Prince

Hilarious that this comes after the concert that happened the day after. Now I am confused! The sound quality is not as good as the Milan show, but the setlist is slightly different; much less covers, a couple of 90s cuts, and a bit less jamming. Purple Rain is not quite the guitar solo masterclass as it would be the next night, but it is still extremely awesome. 

Highlights: Purple Rain, Peach, Controversy/Le Freak/Sexy Dancer, Shhh!

7.5/10

The Living Dead - BUMP OF CHICKEN

My usual points about these dudes still remains, but this album is a little different in vibes; it is much less rocking and a bit more chill. The acoustic guitar is quite prominent, but without the album not feeling like an indie rock album. Actually, that is the vibe! Much more indie. 

Highlights: LAMP, K, 続・くだらない唄, リリィ

7/10

The Living End - The Living End

When I hear Green Day albums from the late 90s/early 00s like Nimrod and Warning, I think this is what they though they sounded like. But they did not. Because that stuff was weaksauce and this is ferocious skiffle rockabilly punk rock and it absolutely stomps hard. Awesome songs and VERY good musicians. Sure, the 2nd half is just kind of okay, but that first half is so amazing you forget you are listening to some young Aussie dudes. Apparently, the dude from this band is also in a rockabilly group with Jimmy Barnes. Holy moly!

Highlights: Growing Up (Falling Down), Monday, Save the Day, Second Solution, West End Riot, All Torn Down

8/10

Living in the city - SCANDAL

Their drummer must have slept in and missed the session? Because this is modern-era SCANDAL with a big beat behind those soundscape guitars. And it is great.

8/10

Living in the Material World - George Harrison

This is much of a straight up pop album, compared to his first solo effort. Lyrically, it is very focused on spirituality. And getting sued.

Highlights: Be Here Now, Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth), The Day The World Get's Round, Living in the Material World

7.5/10

Living Things - Linkin Park

This is pretty quick fire. But also lacking in any real substance or anything memorable. It follows a bit of the vibe of Ten Thousand Suns by having a whole lot of similar sounding songs. Except those were awesome and there were all those weird interludes to mix it.

Highlights: Burn it Down, Powerless

6/10

London Calling - The Clash

Not quite as diverse as some of their other albums, but the mindset and attitude remains the same. This marathon has definitely made me appreciate The Clash even more.

Highlights: London Calling, Death or Glory, Train in Vain, Rudie Can't Fail

7.5/10

Long Plays 83-87 - Pseudo Echo

This is purely Funky Town. The greatest cover song ever. I do not need to know if Pseudo Echo ever made any other music, because this song should fund them many houses for eternity.

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 125

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2025 in 2025: Day 82

Get Ready - New Order

New Order's big comeback and not even Billy Corgan can bring it down. We can also thank this for The Killers getting their name. The middle part of this album goes from dark electronic beats to just straight-up radio rock. But the whole thing is bookended by just the most awesome songs - which are also a mix of dark head-drilling beats and simple radio-friendly rock. I always love the way they let the electronic songs build and layer the instruments - Peter Hook's bass work was more than just simple bass lines, more like melodies that added extra texture to the songs.

Highlights: Crystal, Turn My Way, Someone Like You, Close Range, Run Wild

8/10

Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent

Good luck finding me In da Club! This song has Eminem's fingerprints all over; matches his own style, with all the silly noises and background skits.

8/10

Get Rich or Die Tryin': Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture - 50 Cent

I only have the one song here - I'll Whip Ya Head Boy. Is this what they call mumble rap? Because I'll be damned if I can understand a word 50 is rapping here. I actually saw this movie! It was as dumb as this song.

5/10

Get Your Wings - Aerosmith

Middle of the road 70s Aerosmith. It is not bad at all - because Aerosmith did not learn how to be bad until the end of millennium - but it is not as awesome as they are capable of.

Highlights: S.O.S. (Too Bad), Train Kept a Rollin'

6.5/10

Ghetto Superstar - Pras

I was certain I had this full album, but apparently I only have Ghetto Superstar and Avenues. Which are awesome songs, so I am glad to at least still have them. How is it I disliked The Fugees but really enjoy the solo work from each member?

10/10

The Ghost of Tom Joad - Rage Against the Machine

I got this single when I purchased a Rage Against the Machine VHS. The song itself is on Renegades, so not really sure why I still have it. For the live songs? So I can have some killer Rage Against the Machine to get the party started on a rainy morning?

Highlights: The Ghost of Tom Joad, Vietnow (Live), The Ghost of Tom Joad (Live)

8/10

GiANT KiLLERS - BiSH

I cannot listen to this and not want to rock and dance and stomp a hole in the world. The best BiSH release. The best BiSH songs. That breakdown/bridge in Nothing. is the best. It is all just the best. I could listen to these five songs all day.

Highlights: GiANT KiLLERS, Marionette, Nothing., VOMiT SONG

10/10

Gimme Something Good [Single] - Ryan Adams

This is only the b-side Aching For More and it is in really bad quality. WTF? And it is actually fantastic.

9/10

Gin - Gin Wigmore

I knew this good run was going to end eventually. But to end so spectacularly badly?

Highlights: Under My Skin

4/10

A Girl Like Me - Emma Bunton

Sadly, this is purely the single What Took You So Long? I am somewhat surprised Emma Bunton never had more of a solo career. But if it means I get another Spice Girls reunion, then so be it!

8/10

Girl Power! Live In Istanbul - Spice Girls

This is the full concert; I'm guessing some of the songs are sourced straight from the video and the rest were b-sides on various singles. In case you are not a massive Spice Girls fan, this was their first ever live concert and the whole thing was broadcast live on TV. And then edited for VHS. And then (10 years later) DVD. Sure, their singing is nothing special live - Victoria is borderline awful - but they at least had a proper live band and that helps give the songs an extra kick in places.

Highlights: If You Can't Dance, Step to Me, Move Over [Encore], Wannabe [Encore]

7/10

Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli

I do no really care who actually sang these songs (I mean, obviously the real singers do deserve the credit), but these songs are serious jams and that can never be denied. Also, Milli Vanilli got a bad rapp and were totally thrown under the bus by their producer.

Highlights: Girl You Know It's True, Baby Don't Forget My Number, Blame it on the Rain

8/10

Girls, Girls, Girls - Mötley Crüe

Wild Side is all kinds of awesome badassery and Dancing on Glass is pretty darn cool, actually. Even some saxophone for added cool? And some type of gospel singer doing some "SWEET JESUS" warbling?? What the hell?? Sadly, Bad Boy Boogie does not continue the awesomeness. In fact, it's actually one of the dumbest Crüe songs you will ever hear. Like, I don't even understand what's going on here - Kiss lyrics against some weird blues riff with 80's production? Nona is non-anything. At least Five Years Dead has a cool opening riff. Except that's almost the entire song, so it feels like it just goes on and on. All In the Name of... is kinda ok. Except, again it's just the same riff over and over again. No wonder these dudes were doing so much drugs at this point. Sumthin' for Nuthin' is good - though I'm kinda confused by the big choir singing in the chorus, especially when it seems he's singing about being a gigolo? Again, 80's/drugs/insert reason. You're All I Need is some sort of attempt at an MTV ballad, I'm guessing. Except the lyrics are all about killing someone for not loving him back, so clearly this would have fit in better now. Except MTV don't play music videos now. Don't get me wrong, I know Nikki was having a good laugh writing this, but I feel like it would have been better served as a b-side or something. But considering the closing track on this album is a live cover of Jailhouse Rock, I am not convinced he had the cognitive ability to cobble together any other tracks at this point.

Highlights: Wild Side, Dancing on Glass, Sumthin' for Nuthin'

6.5/10

Gish - Smashing Pumpkins

What is more shocking than remembering I have a Smashing Pumpkins album in my iTunes library? Remembering I have two full Smashing Pumpkins albums in my iTunes library. Corgan's voice is not actually as annoying on this one, surprisingly. 

Highlights: Siva, Rhinoceros, Snail

6/10

Give 'Em Enough Rope - The Clash

Bah gawd I needed this after that. UK punk does not get any more classic and fun than this!

Highlights: Safe European Home, Tommy Gun, Drug-Stabbing Time, English Civil War

8/10

Glass Houses - Billy Joel

I get You May Be Right stuck in my head all the time, so quite a welcome listen. Lots of French lyrics and references going on here. Communist!

Highlights: You May Be Right, Sometimes a Fantasy, All for Leyna, Sleeping with the Television On

7/10

Glitter - Mariah Carey

MC and Nate Dogg is a combo I did not know I needed - but they could have left Ja Rule at home. Or at the homeless shelter. The pure audacity to ripoff Prince on I Didn't Mean to Turn You On! The general 80s grooves and super funky stylings are very cool, and MC doing her best to be sexy really suits it all. I remember this movie being.. a movie? I have it on blu-ray, in fact. I should watch it again!

Highlights: Loverboy, If We, I Didn't Mean to Turn You On, All My Life

7/10

Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Joan Jett albums usually contain a few killer tracks and then a bunch of filler. This album is the same, but without the former. There is nothing terrible, but it is all pretty standard fare. I am not convinced covering herself with Cherry Bomb was necessary. And it is a shame this was her last reissue. Give me the rest of her albums already!

Highlights: I Love You Love Me, Long Time, Someday, Push and Stomp

7/10

Glow Stars - Heather Nova

Heather Nova's first album is much less pop than anything else she has done since; very sparse and minimalist, and dare I say a bit darker? It relies too much on having spooky production or whatever, when I am sure they could have just made some proper songs instead. She has shown on every album since that she is more than capable!

Highlights: My Fidelity, Frontier, Shaking the Doll

5/10

GO 2 THE NEW WORLD - 2

This is not as balls-to-the-wall awesome as their follow up album (which we will get to in like 6 months), but still seriously rocks hard in parts. More of a UK indie garage rock sound than I initially expected. Cool guitar solos, as well!

Highlights: GO 2 THE NEW WORLD, FALL FALL FALL, SONG FOR YOU, LUCKY BOY

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 682

2025 in 2025: Day 48

Cross Road - Bon Jovi

This is purely the songs I don't have on other albums - that being the 2 new songs (Someday I'll Be Saturday Night & Always) and Runaway. Because I am lame and still do not have their debut album. I legit can not explain that in a rational way. Maybe that will be my goal for 2025? Start 2026 by listening to that album?

Highlights: Someday I'll Be Saturday Night, Always, Runaway

8/10

The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Various Artists

A whole lot of dark and brooding alternative songs. Some fairly light industrial fare, as well. But when your soundtrack opens with this kind of song by The Cure, you can not help but win. I wanted to do something with Golgotha Tenement Blues during my video making days. It could have been used so much better in this film. Nine Inch Nails covering Joy Division. Rage Against The Machine with a song that I've heard about 7 different versions of and this one is not my favourite. The singer from Helmet had such a boring voice. I could have sworn there was a Skinny Puppy song on here, but I am not sad that I am wrong. 

Highlights: Burn - The Cure, Golgotha Tenement Blues - Machines of Loving Grace, Slip Slide Melting - For Love Not Lisa, Dead Souls - Nine Inch Nails

6.5/10

The Crow: City of Angels (Soundtrack) - Various Artists

The movie was not as good, but I would argue the soundtrack was better in some ways - or at least the better songs are much better? And some of the songs are much worse. I certainly did not need to hear Bush do anything, let alone cover a Joy Division song badly. Tricky is a weird dude. Knock Me Out is just awesome; Grace Slick and Linda Perry's voices are both so strong and full of emotion, they match perfectly in this song. Deftones sound so old school here, with the boxy guitar tone, Chi shouting in the chorus and Chino kind of semi-rapping. City of Angels sounds like a serious ripoff of Dam It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta. And things end with a glorious Heather Nova performance, which I will always welcome after a bunch of crap alt rock.

Highlights: Knock Me Out - Linda Perry & Grace Slick, Believe in Angels - Heather Nova & Graeme Revell, Teething - Deftones, Jurassitol - Filter

6/10

Crowded House - Crowded House

What a debut album this is. Neil Finn is the greatest songwriter from New Zealand - at least this side of Tim Finn, anyways. I am not even sure Crowded House ever topped this album; it is pure 80s pop rock greatness. It also is not said enough, but all three are/were fantastic musicians in their rights.

Highlights: Mean to Me, Don't Dream it's Over, Something So Strong, I Walk Away

9/10

Crown Royal - Run-D.M.C.

The worst Run-D.M.C. album! D.M.C. appears on a total of... one song? And instead they team up with quality MCs like... Kid Rock and Fred Durst. Need I say more? Well, it is not all bad; the one song that is pure Run-D.M.C. is awesome, as is the collaboration with Stephan Jenkins. Also, Simmons Incorporated is pretty darn great. Oh, D.M.C. is on this one as well - I just forget, because he lays down like 5 lines or something. Quite sad that this was the last album they released. RIP JMJ

Highlights: Simmons Incorporated (w/Method Man), Crown Royal, Rock Show (w/Stephan Jenkins)

6.5/10

Crush - Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi always sounds so corny when he swears in his songs. This is probably the Bon Jovi album that I listen to the least - well, until I got What About Now. This album is not as bad as that, but it is trying. It is just really really mediocre. And I don't think It's My Life is nearly as good as everyone else seems to think it is. 

Highlights: Just Older, Captain Crash & The Beauty Queen from Mars

5/10

CRUSH & BUILD - PSYCHIC LOVER

This is pretty much what I needed after that hour of mediocrity. PSYCHIC LOVER re-recording their 'biggest hits' or whatever they are (they are hits to me!). Somehow these songs sound even more boombastic and highly produced, when I am certain YOFFY just recorded these all at home on his own setup. Then again, they have a full on live band these days - maybe they recorded with them as well? Hard to judge which versions are better, to be honest here, but I certainly do not need English language versions. I often consider YOFFY to be the Japanese Jon Bon Jovi, but after listening to Crush and then this back-to-back, YOFFY is way better. IMAJO is no Richie Sambora, though (they are both awesome in different ways).

Highlights: Everything Except the English Versions

7.5/10

The Cure - The Cure

Man, this morning is too sunny and beautiful for this album! For some reason, I feel like I have already talked about this album. It is like The Cure, if the The Cure were angry and trying to be more metal? But then this is The Cure? The End of the World is like a total pop song, though, so everything I am writing is just proving to be nonsense? The Promise is epic. 

Highlights: Labyrinth, The Promise, The End of the World, Alt. End, Going Nowhere

7/10

Cut The Crap - The Clash

Joe Strummer does 80s pop? Joe Strummer does Garageband? Joe Strummer does a 'WTF am I doing?' Everything sounds so poorly recorded - even for The Clash. And there are just odd noises and samples going on in the background that distract from actual songs. The weird part is, I kind of wish they had just embraced the 80s ska-pop thing 100% and really gone for it, because there are couple of cool songs (or at least songs that have cool elements) that just end up crashing from the poor production and whatnot. Fingerpoppin' is a certified dancehall banger!

Highlights: Fingerpoppin', North and South

4.5/10

Cuts Like a Knife - Bryan Adams

I think this was BA's first really good album; You Want It, You Got It was fine, but Cuts Like a Knife is more polished and the songs are stronger, more consistent. I think maybe this was the first album Keith Scott joined the team? That would all tie in nicely; his guitar playing really adds something to what Bryan Adams brings to the table. As does whoever is playing these organ/keyboard parts. I could imagine Kiss doing I'm Ready - maybe not for Creatures of the Night, but definitely on Unmasked. 

Highlights: The Only One, Cuts Like a Knife, What's It Gonna Be, Take Me Back, This Time, I'm Ready

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 373

2025 in 2025: Day 39

The College Dropout - Kanye West

I haven't listened to this in forever and I forgot how much Kanye thought he was some sort of prophet or something; this album is all about his love for Jesus and how he is here to preach to us all about Jesus. But also preach to us about how awesome he is, so that should have been a warning right there. I also forgot that Kanye was always a dirty dude. Song-wise, I think this might be his most accessible album? Most consistent? Feels like there are skits between every song, though. The dude stumbling over his lines in the School Spirit skit is hilarious. And what is up with the censoring on this album? One minute a word is fine, but in the next song, that same word is not allowed? I have no hesitation saying Two Words is the best song Kanye has ever done. I seem to have a lot of songs where Freeway appears and kicks some butt.

Highlights: Never Let Me Down, Two Words, School Spirit

8/10

Collision Course - Jay-Z & Linkin Park

Is this the greatest mash-up album of all time? Mike Shinoda genuinely seems like the coolest dude and the fact he put this together is proof. The Jigga What/Faint transition is totally smooth. The funniest part of the making of to me was Jay-Z telling Chester Bennington to just be himself, and then during the live performance Chester is trying to act all hip-hop and it just comes across as incredibly cringe and try-hard. Dude should have listened Jay-Z and maybe he wouldn't have killed himself. 

Highlights: Dirt Off Your Shoulder/Lying from You, Numb/Encore

9/10

COLORFUL POP - E-Girls

I picked this up for as cheap as I could find, purely for the song A S A P; it is used as the ending song for possibly the funniest movie I have ever seen, and it is so fun there I needed it in my collection. The rest of the album is just... somewhat disposable? There is a Bananarama cover, so that's something...

Highlights: A S A P, I'm sure I liked this album more when I first got it?

5.5/10

colors - mol-74

This is some super chill indie pop rock. Very lo-fi, very easy to listen to. Not really much else going on?

Highlights: yellow, fears

7/10

Colours - Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayu spells words correctly! I genuinely love this album; it's just about as dancey and poppy as Ayu could possibly be. No interludes. Just 10 tracks of great music. The extreme EDM parts make me think this is what she really wanted for Party Queen, but I don't know. But I do know that Pray is one of her greatest ballads. 

Highlights: Pray, NOW & 4EVA, XOXO, Terminal

8/10

Combat Rock - The Clash

This album is so far removed from where The Clash started, I can't even begin to explain it properly. One of the most interesting aspects to them as a band, to me, is how much they deviated from the normal 'punk rock' style once they got big; they could have easily kept doing the same sort of music, but instead they veered off and just soaked up inspiration from everywhere. All while still expressing the same anti-authority left-wing punk ideologies in their lyrics. Musically, this album doesn't do a lot for me, but I respect what they were doing.

Highlights: Should I Stay or Should I Go?, Rock The Casbah, Overpowered By Funk

6/10

Come And See - Manbreak

Late 90s UK white dudes thinking they are hard rap-rock gangsters. Something like that, anyways. You would think with a comment like that I think this is lame, but no - I actually dig this album, it is just fun to make fun of that whole Britpop scene. In fact, it might be the weather or the fact I just had a nice strong cacao + matcha drink, but this album is exponentially better than I remembered. Clearly I should listen to this a lot more.

Highlights: Morning, News of the World, Round and Round, Cut Ups

7/10

COME BACK TO 19 - The Tomboys

Huh, I just found that The Tomboys split about 6 months ago. That's a shame, but they had been together for like 11 years, so it happens. This is probably their catchiest collection of tunes. It's the shortest, that is certain. 

Highlights: Please Remember Me, Dream Box, Theme of THE TOMBOYS

7/10

Come Pick Me Up (alternate take) - Ryan Adams

I think this was some RSD release, that then got released on iTunes. It is two songs in vastly inferior versions - including the cliched punk ending to Come Pick Me Up. I'm fairly sick of that song, anyways, so this does nothing for me. I would prefer more Tomboys fun...

Highlights: it was short

4/10

Come With Us - The Chemical Brothers

Now these are songs I could never get sick of! I actually used the name Star Guitar for any electronic music I made - which was mostly remixes of my own music. I know nothing about making good electronic music. Luckily, The Chemical Brothers know all about making good electronic music. And this album is 10 tracks of the finest electronic music possible. There are some hard-hitting house style beats and some glorious chillout jams and it is all so sooo good. I know it is a DJ thing, but I have always loved the way these dudes transition so seamlessly to each new track. Shout out to Richard Ashcroft for keeping the Britpop connection alive and delivering the coolest vocals.

Highlights: Galaxy Bounce, The Test, My Elastic Eye, Star Guitar

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 330

2025 in 2025: Day 37

Christmas Apocalypse (Part 2) - The Shit

Christmas has come early in the house of LOGMAN! This is possibly my 2nd fav The Shit album. I had stuff to write, but the album was over before I could get my head in to gear.

Highlights: Shenanigans, Jesus H. Christmas, Jimmy Hackeysack, Jacques Cousteau Punch Him in the Nuts, Happy Birthday Officer David Livingston

7/10

Christmas In The Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album - Meco

C3PO and R2D2 team up with disco king Meco to bring us the weirdest Christmas album possible. There is sadly no disco to be found, just a whole lot of saccharine and Star Wars references and Christmas nonsense, delivered in spoken word by C3PO and beeps from R2D2. Some other robots or something discuss the presents they have bought for other Star Wars characters. And now some kids are singing Merry Christmas to R2D2, but they just sang about him coming down the chimney. Do they think he is Santa Claus? Also, warming his wires by fire sounds like a serious fire hazard! If you need a singing teacher, C3PO is about the last person I would recommend. And you are clearly poorly-programmed droids if you think whistling is singing. At least Ryan Adams had the decency to sing about people getting punched in the nuts at Xmas time...

Highlights: The Odds Against Christmas, What Can You Get a Wookie for Christmas (When He Already Has a Comb?)

5/10

Christmas Will Break Your Heart [Single] - LCD Soundsystem

The most depressing Xmas song? This was the big LCD Soundsystem reunion single. Again, there is no disco to be found. If we're going to do Xmas with disco acts, I would like some disco, please.

6/10

Chronicles - Steve Winwood

Nothing like some 80s Winwood to wash away the silliness of Xmas celebrations in March. This is a good reminder I need to do a more in-depth listen to Steve Winwood's solo work; this is a good compilation and I enjoy the remix nature of some of the songs, but I am interested to hear the rest of his 80s output and get more of a insight into his songwriting.

Highlights: Valerie (Remix), Higher Love

8/10

Chu~♡ - F(x)

More random K-Pop songs in my iTunes library. And I am not complaining.

7/10

Cinema Trip - PASSPO☆

My favourite album? The greatest album? Have I claimed both of those things for 50 other albums so far? I don't have a lot more to say about this one, except 5 1/2 years later it is still the highest played album in my iTunes library - and on last check, バチェロレッテは終わらない was about 100 plays ahead of anything else. By Prime, those last three songs on this album are absolute perfection. Passenger for life!

Highlights: Music Navigation, 7's Up, Playground, ギミギミaction, フィルム, バチェロレッテは終わらない

9.5/10

The Circle - Bon Jovi

Man, these dudes knew how to open an album! The rest is very inspired by the times; think Coldplay and U2 and One Republic and similar type of bands. When it works, it works - because Richie Sambora is awesome. Some of the lyrics are pretty cringe; this was the middle of a global recession, so a lot of people were struggling, and Jon Bon Jovi tried to reflect that in his lyrics, but a rich rockstar singing lines like "They took my pension" just sounds lame. Your pension is safe and sound, buddy - just release another deluxe edition of Slippery When Wet and you'll be able to fund another beach house or restaurant to help feed the homeless. 

Highlights: We Weren't Born to Follow, Brokenpromiseland, Happy Now, Learn to Love

7/10

Circus Animals - Cold Chisel

I had been led to believe that by this album, Cold Chisel were not releasing good music. You only need to listen to the first song to realise that is a lie; there are three stone cold classics on this album and a bunch of badass rock'n'roll songs to accompany them. I definitely prefer the live version of Bow River - the harmonica solo just lifts the song to different level - but Barnesy's delivery of the last line of the studio version here is awesome. Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes had super cool harmonies; such completely different sounding voices, but when harmonising together, it sounds fantastic. 

Highlights: You Got Nothing I Want, Bow River, Forever Now, When the War is Over

7.5/10

The Clash - The Clash

You can't go wrong with some classic English punk. And this album is about as English punk as it gets. Except, hilariously, this is the US version. Look, I don't know what's going on at the best of times. Just roll with it for now... I might have to get the UK version one day and compare the two, because this album is all sorts of cool.

Highlights: I Fought the Law, Clash City Rockers, I'm So Bored with the U.S.A., London's Burning

8/10

CLASH EP -  小玉しのぶ

Fun story; after seeing BiSH live in Kanagawa, I was at a train station in either Kanagawa or Yokohama (I don't recall correctly) and outside was a young woman performing songs and selling CDs. She was very talented, so I picked up a couple of her CDs - and I have never regretted, because this EP is brilliant. I'm not just throwing around hyperbole when I say Say may well be the most underrated pop rock song on the planet. It is a genuine reminder that great music is anywhere if you just go looking for it.

Highlights: Say, 境界線

9/10

The Clash Tribute - Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen & Steven Van Zandt

This was a performance of London Calling by a bunch of old dudes. I liked it at the time. Now not so much...

5/10

Class Mythology - Ryan Adams

I don't remember much about this release, except that it is just chill acoustic numbers. Really chill. Except Future Sparrow - that sounds like a full on Cardinals song.

Highlights: Your Name is on Fire

6.5/10

Cloud Nine - George Harrison

This was probably my first exposure to George Harrison outside of The Beatles; Got My Mind Set On You was a big hit and I probably taped it off the radio like most kids in those days. It stands as probably my favourite album of his from the 80s, for sure. He and Jeff Lynne were a fab team. Probably the most pop collection of songs he made in his whole solo career. 

Highlights: That's What it Takes, Got My Mind Set On You, Fish on the Sand, Devil's Radio

8/10

Clumsy - Our Lady Peace

By Prime! OLP were a force on this album. Raine Maida certainly has a unique voice that you either love or hate, and I fall in to the camp of the former. When he nailed his falsetto stuff it really added something to the songs. Lyrics on this album are top tier, although I still don't really know what he means by "the world's a subway". I have added a terribly-recorded live performance of Dear Prudence to the end, for some reason. 2025 LOGMAN would not do such a thing to an album...

Highlights: Superman's Dead, 4 A.M., Clumsy

8/10

Coach Carter: Music from the Motion Picture - Various Artists

This is purely Hope by Twista and Faith Evans. It is a solid groove; Twista's flow is not over the top and Faith just hooks us up with a nice chorus. Nice song.

7/10

Coachella - Ryan Adams

Even when I was a fan of this dude, this was kind of not that great to me. I just didn't think much of the performance and I still don't. Granted, it must have been difficult with all the noise from the other stages - hardly makes for the usual type of atmosphere he played in. 

Highlights: Making comments about everyone getting sad in the desert

4/10

Cold Chisel - Cold Chisel

I will repeat myself; the US mix of Khe Sanh is the best version - Barnes' vocals are just more polished and that harmony he pulls off is awesome. The rest of this album is very blues rock. And very Cold Chisel.

Highlights: Juliet, Khe Sanh, Darskarzine, H-Hour Hotel

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 314