2025 in 2025: Day 168

Speak - Lindsay Lohan

Compared to A Little More Personal (Raw), this is much more of a teen pop album. Which is not a bad thing. Fun, mostly upbeat, basic lyrics and all easily singalongable.

Highlights: Disconnected, Over, First, Symptoms of You

7/10

Speak for Yourself - Imogen Heap

There was this six month period of 2005 where it seemed like everyone was on the Imogen Heap hype train. Which is crazy, because this album is just nothing!

Highlights: Hide and Seek, The Walk

6.5/10

Speakerboxxx - Outkast

Holy cow, this is so much better than I remember. Or at least much better than The Love Below. They really should have just made one great album instead, because this just straight-up hip-hop coolness. Big Boi is severely underrated and all the features here are rad, as well.

Highlights: Flip-Flop Rock, Last Call, The Way You Move, War

7.5/10

Spellbound - Split Enz

These dudes were the greatest musical act in New Zealand history and this marathon is only convincing me it is not close.

Highlights: Message to My Girl, History Never Repeats, Six Months in a Leaky Boat, I See Red

8/10

Spend the Night - The Donnas

Modern rock bands could learn a thing or two from The Donnas. This album, specifically, where every song is either 'this dude sucks' or 'this dude has a big dong so he should let me ride it'. Lessons learned!

Highlights: I Don't Care (So There), 5 O'Clock in the Morning, Too Bad About Your Girl, Take It Off

9/10

SPICE - SCANDAL

When my girls rock, they rock hard. This is almost the most typically Japanese rock song they have done in years.

8/10

Spice - Spice Girls

Is there a more perfect pop album? Sure, maybe. But these women will forever have my heart. I never really noticed before that there is some heavy UK funk influence in here - which explains why it registered so well with me? And god help the mister that comes between me and my sisters!

Highlights: Say You'll Be There, Who Do You Think You Are?, Love Thing, Wannabe

9/10

Spice: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition - Spice Girls

I have already complained about this and there certainly is a lot missing, but what is here is actually decent and it is great to have this much in one place.

Highlights: One of These Girls, Spice Chat 2, Say You'll Be There [7" Radio Edit], If You Can't Dance [Demo Version]

7/10

Spiceworld - Spice Girls

Definitely less funk influence and more of a throwback to 60s pop and soul, in my opinion. But still very awesome. Melvins B and C were the coolest.

Highlights: Do It, Move Over, Stop, Saturday Night Divas

9/10

Spiceworld: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition - Spice Girls

Similar to the Spice: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, there is a lot missing here, and instead time is devoted to remixes and live versions. At least we got the other Pepsi song!

Highlights: Step to Me [7" Mix], Outer Space Girls, Spice Girls Party Mix

7/10

Spiceworld Tour Live At Wembley Stadium 20-09-1998 - Spice World

I had this on VHS, but missed out on getting the DVD - which now sells for more than the price of a locomotive. But I also did not watch my VHS all that much, back in the day. It is good, but Geri is missing and it is noticeable. Although they did play a recording of her singing in Spanish during If You Can't Dance. They also announce they are staying together and then broke up two years later...

Highlights: Who Do You Think You Are?, Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves, Say You'll Be There, We Are Family

7/10

Spike - Elvis Costello

This is only the single Veronica. I actually do not know much of Elvis Costello's works. I keep telling myself to one day do a bit of listen, but then forget and just listen to The Shit...

7.5/10

Spirit - Leona Lewis

I think I enjoyed her second album more? Like, the ballads are impressive... well, a couple are, but the rest is very forgettable.

Highlights: Whatever It Takes, I Will Be, The Best You Never Had, Bleeding Love

6.5/10

The Spirit Room - Michelle Branch

Why do I not have full albums by Michelle Branch? The songs I have by her are pop perfection, yet I have not heard anything else? I make no sense. Oh yeah, this is All You Wanted.

9/10

Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimerron - Bryan Adams & Hans Zimmer

Bryan Adams makes a lot songs for movies and has done since the 90s. This is the rare occasion he made a full album's worth. Well, almost; Hans Zimmer does provide a few songs of pure score. BA is pretty good at evoking emotion, so it makes sense.

Highlights: Here I Am (End Title), Sound the Bugle, Don't Let Go, This is Where I Belong

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1595

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2025 in 2025: Day 83

GOiNG TO DESTRUCTiON - BiSH

Bah gawd this album rules the schools. Very little idol nonsense and a whole lot of punk attitude, wrapped up in some pop stylings. The whole thing is full of great hooks and big beats and screaming vocals and just awesomeness. So good I had to buy it three different times...

Highlights: in case..., STACKiNG, I have no idea., WiTH YOU, 狂う狂う, BROKEN

9/10

Gold - Cher

While I do appreciate her 60s and 70s music - it is mostly good light-hearted pop, some of it strangely racially-charged - I feel like Cher really came into her own once she hooked up with Richie Sambora. The 80s style pop-rock thing really suited her voice. Especially the power ballads. I also enjoy her late 90s/early 00s resurgence doing disco. Because LOGMAN loves disco. And Cher. Only song missing from this is her cover of Walking in Memphis - her live cut of that is fantastic.

Highlights: We All Sleep Alone, After All, If I Could Turn Back Time, Just Like Jessie James, Song for the Lonely

7.5/10

Gold - Ryan Adams

It is crazy to think DRA wanted this as a double-album; the cut tracks are mostly average (but mostly not great) and half of the remaining tracks are also kinda there. But boy howdy that first half of the album is brilliant. It tries to get back to that level around Harder Now That It's Over, and it certainly gets close. 

Highlights: New York New York, Firecracker, Answering Bell, La Cienaga Just Smiled, The Rescue Blues

8/10

Gold: Greatest Hits - The Everly Brothers

The title does not lie; this is pure rock'n roll gold. These dudes had beautiful harmonies.

Highlights: Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Susie, Rip It Up, Should We Tell Him, Poor Jenny

7/10

Gold Against the Soul - Manic Street Preachers

I forget how kickass this album is. Compared to their first album, there is nothing on the level of Stay Beautiful or Motorcycle Emptiness (I mean, that is a crazy high bar to set), but overall I enjoy this album more. Shorter, punchier, all great songs and a much better mix. James Dean Bradfield sounds very angry!

Highlights: From Despair to Where, Sleepflower, Yourself, Roses in the Hospital

8/10

Gold Cobra - Limp Bizkit

Ten years after their peak and ten years before they embraced being just a fun joke of a band. And Fred Durst was still "rapping" about bagging hawt women and fighting people. "So much ass in Los Angeles/It's definitely scandalous". Thought-provoking def jam poetry slam, to be sure.

Highlights: Gold Cobra, Shark Attack, Shotgun, 90.2.10

6/10

The Gold Experience - Prince

I mean, sure, he was actually the symbol at this point. But I just credit everything to Prince. And this album is one of his best. Or at least one of my favourites. Funk, rock, soul, ballads and awesomeness all wrapped in a nice gold bow. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is just phemonenal and Endorphinmachine is the most fun rockin' Prince song on the planet. I am even willing to overlook the overt religious lyrics on songs like Dolphin and Gold. That is just how this all this.

Highlights: Endorphinmachine, Shhh, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Gold

9/10

Gold Medal - The Donnas

I don't want to say this album is boring, because it is not quite that bad. But compared to the stellar Spend The Night, this is... 

Highlights: Don't Break Me Down, Fall Behind Me, It Takes One to Know One

6.5/10

The Golden Age of Wireless - Thomas Dolby

This is purely the song She Blinded Me with Science. It is classic 80s synth pop stuff.

7/10

Gone Troppo - George Harrison

Speaking of 80s synth pop stuff - George and his Moog are back having some summer fun.

Highlights: Dream Away, Wake Up My Love, Gone Troppo, That's the Way it Goes

7/10

Gonna Make You Sweat - C+C Music Factory

This is both super fun pop-rap dance stuff, and hard hitting 90s dancefloor jams. 90s dance stuff could super funky. This dude's raps are hilariously cringe at times. And surprisingly misogynistic!

Highlights: Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now), Here We Go Let's Rock & Roll, Things That Make You Go Hmmmm...., Bang That Beat

8/10

Good Bye - M to M

K-Pop ballad. Idol group? Handsome actor? A combo of both??

7.5/10

Goodbye [Single] - Spice Girls

Saying goodbye to Geri, but not really. Smart marketing. I was actually unpacking a box the other day and found my poster book from their split with Geri. What a time to be a Spice Girls fan. A sad time. Anyways, this song is beautiful and the tracks from Live at Wembley are also very, very good. The Mels completely nail Sisters (Are Doing It For Themselves) . Smashing stuff!

Highlights: Goodbye, Sisters (Are Doing It For Themselves), We Are Family [Live]

10/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 695

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2025 in 2025: Day 49

Cyberpunk - Billy Idol

Vince Neil stole Steve Stevens, so Billy Idol's only answer was to make a weird concept album and fuse his brand of rock with 90s electronica? The dude even decides to do some rapping on here. I'd make fun, but all these fake commercials and news bits feel kind of like he was inspired RoboCop. And Shock to the System is a genuinely brilliant song. There are a couple of other good songs, but mostly this is all very dated and long and kind of silly.

Highlights: Shock to the System, Power Junkie

5/10

Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill

This album doesn't have the glorious production or menacing darkness of Black Sunday. But what it does have is funky grooves and super cool rhymes. Sometimes when a group doesn't have lots of money to hide behind, they are forced to be very good - and Cypress Hill were very good. Probably still are?

Highlights: How I Could Just Kill a Man, Light Another, Real Estate, Stoned is the Way of the Walk, The Funky Cypress Hill Shit

7/10

D.I.S.C.O. - Ottawan

Sadly, this is simply the single song from the French duo. It is a testament to the power and glory of disco music. That intro alone is life.

10/10

Da Real World - Missy Elliott

So we finally made it to the D albums! I loves me some Missy Elliott, but her first couple of albums just kind of meander a little. How did I forget Slim Shady is on here? Man, he was so fun back in the day. A lot of guest appearances on this album. And some preaching from Missy? That's not a fun way to end an album...

Highlights: Busa Rhyme

5/10

Dad Man Cat - Corduroy

One of the grooviest albums of all time. Also coolest song titles of all time, like How to Steal the World, The Girl Who Was Death and Skirt Alert. These cats were the coolest. I still need to split the live tracks from each album and put them on their own - they all come from an actual live album that was released a million years ago, but I do not have.

Highlights: How to Steal the World, Frug in G Major, Pony Tail, Skirt Alert, Money Is

9/10

Daft Punk is Playing at My House [Single] - LCD Soundsystem

It is not that song, because I have that on the self-titled LCD Soundsystem album. This is purely Jump Into the Fire (Radio One Live Sessions). This is so much better than that terrible version I heard a couple of days ago on The Craft soundtrack.

8/10

Dakota [Single] - Stereophonics

Great song, this one. The remix is pretty naff, though. And the other demo song on here is fine.

Highlights: Dakota

6/10

Dance Your Asteroids Off to the Complete Star Wars Collection - Meco

Another Meco compilation, but this time it is purely Star Wars themes. Including the Ewok celebrations from Return of the Jedi. Some of these are edited versions and a whole lot of fake movie dialogue has been edited in. The "Yoda" is hilarious; sounds more like Kurgen from Highlander! Bah gawd Meco has even re-recorded the full Lapti Nek in the corniest way. "C3PO" is rapping in Ewok language about Star Wars characters and this might be the one moment saving the album from being deleted. Jar Jar Binks rapping about himself may be even funnier!

Highlights: Darth Vader's Theme/Yoda's Theme, The Battle in the Snow, Ewok Celebration

7/10

Dancing on the Ceiling - Lionel Richie

This is purely the title track, because it is an 80s dance classic and I will love it forever. The guitar solo is way cooler than it had any right to be.

10/10

Dancing With Myself (From the Motion Picture Mean Girls) [Single] - The Donnas

An awesome cover from an awesome movie. I'm not sure if I love this more than the original, but maybe I do, because The Donnas had such great attitude. I started the day with Billy Idol being weird and ending the day with a cover of one of his best songs. Full circle!

10/10

Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys (Deluxe Version) - My Chemical Romance

These dudes owe their producers at least 80% of everything they ever earned, because they managed to make Gerard Way sound like a great screamo-style singer, when he was in fact just an average bad singer. Also, they can only make 'concept albums'. All that said, this album has some outstanding pop-punk moments. Bulletproof Heart is the most Green Day song this side of Green Day - right down to the title! In fact, I would argue that almost every song on this album sounds like someone else. And of course they have the cliched girl talking in Japanese moment. Anyways, this album is great and there is genuinely not a bad song on it. 

Highlights: Bulletproof Heart, Sing, The Only Hope For Me Is You, Save Yourself I'll Hold Them Back, The Kids From Yesterday

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 384