2025 in 2025: Day 136

O(+> - Prince and the New Power Generation

This is probably one of my favourite Prince albums; it is not perfect, but he just went so hard with the new jack swing on this. And the funk. And the power ballad stuff. It starts off with a sermon on a mountain and just never lets up. Epic stuff. Also, Tony M gets a bad rap - he really was great on this album.

Highlights: Love 2 the 9's, My Name is Prince, The Morning Papers, Sexy M.F., 7

8/10

Obsessed - Mariah Carey

Mariah sends Eminem to the burn ward! Or something... she sure does not really sing on this like she used to; very heavy autotune and no fancy stuff. Honestly, sounds more like Lady Gaga!

Highlights: Obsessed

7.5/10

ODDINARY - Stray Kids

Fairly straight-forward big beat hip-hop K-Pop styles from these guys. And I mean that is quite different for Stray Kids; usually their stuff can get unnecessarily complicated! 

Highlights: Waiting For Us, MANIAC, Lonely St., Charmer

7/10

Odelay - Beck

I think Beck is rap for white people that pretend to like hip-hop. 

Highlights: Lord Only Knows, Where It's At, Jack-Ass, High 6 (Rock the Catskills)

7/10

Odelay [Bonus Disc] - Beck

Well this was.. pointless. Like spending my money on Beck!

Highlights: I legit could have bought a few meals instead of these Beck albums

4.5/10

Odyssey Number Five - Powderfinger

I do not have the full album - just a couple of decent songs. Which is a gawdam relief right now.

Highlights: My Happiness, My Kind of Scene

8/10

OE: Brazil - Various Artists

NZ dub and similar musicians do Brazilian style dub? Something like that, I think. So it is terrible in two countries? Just kidding - it is not that bad. Good background music, particularly the more bossa nova tracks.

Highlights: 2 4 1 - Barbatuques & Maaka Phat & P. Digsss, Embrace This Place - Funk Como le & Recloose & Tyna

5.5/10

Off The Soundboard: Live In Donington 1996 - Kiss

Reunion tour Kiss! Like most reunion tour Kiss concerts, it rocks; Gene sings like he has eaten razors, Peter drums with inconsistent tempos, Paul continues being a rockstar frontman, and Ace is Ace. I especially love the way he misses his line in Shout it Out Loud, but then jumps in and tries to make it fit. Very badly. And the beauty of being a music festival is we are talking a 90 minutes concert here - so it is just hot fire Kiss slamming it down!

Highlights: Love Gun, Black Diamond, 100,000 Years, Rock and Roll All Nite

8/10

Off The Soundboard: Live in Tokyo 2001 - Kiss

The last Kiss concert! For all of a year. The last Kiss concert with the original lineup! Except one of them got fired before the last bunch of concerts. Regardless, Eric Singer was awesome on drums and this concert kicks the big butts. Why could they not have made this Alive IV?

Highlights: Detroit Rock City, Deuce, Firehouse, Let Me Go Rock & Roll

8/10

Off the Wall - Michael Jackson

MJ with the disco fire! Take away She's Out of My Life and this would be a perfect album of banger after banger. Still a hell of a disco jam as it it.

Highlights: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Get on the Floor, Rock with You, Burn this Disco Out

8.5/10

OLest - Charisma.com

And speaking of bangers, it is everyone's favourite OL duo. Big beats, funky rhythms, catchy rapping and hooks. 

Highlights: 超絶に胸が痛んでいるあなたの上司, こんがらガール, アラサードリーミン, やれよ。

8/10

On a Day Like Today - Bryan Adams

For as much as I like Bryan Adams, this album is a bit of a weaker effort. There is a sequel of sorts to One Night Love Affair - or at least I like to think it is, because otherwise it just comes across as BA ripping himself off. And the man is way too self-aware to do that. I think maybe the whole thing is missing one of those big ballads he always seemed to pull out. Instead, outside of a few rocking tunes and that awesome duet with Melanie C, a lot of the songs are just kind of middle of the road. That duet with Melanie C sure is awesome, though.

Highlights: When You're Gone, Before the Night is Over, On a Day Like Today, Cloud Number Nine

7/10

On How Life Is - Macy Gray

I would not say no to hearing the rest of this album, but for now I will settle for only having Still in my library. Beautiful song. I still maintain that Macy Gray is the worst actor I have ever witnessed. I should watch Fuller House again...

9/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1210

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2025 in 2025: Day 135

Northern Star - Melanie C

My favourite Spice Girl goes solo and it is fairly mixed, but still very pop; a bit of dance-pop, a little bit of R&B, but also kind of alt. rock pop styles, if that makes sense? It all kind of under-delivers, but there are some really great moments. I still can not believe that this is the only album of hers that I actually have!

Highlights: Northern Star, Never Be the Same Again, Ga Ga, Go!

7/10

Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings and More - Buddy Holly

Things kick off with a home recording from 1949 that is more listenable than an MCR demo from 2019. Then it is on to his recordings with Bob and, again, it has been cleaned up so well it makes it an interesting listen. It is all very country and Buddy just sings harmony for the most part. Down the Line kicks off the real rock'n roll era. How is the 1955 recording of You And I Are Through actually worse than the recording in 1954? Once we get to 1956, it is non-stop rock'n roll awesomeness. It is actually quite amazing what Buddy Holly achieved in that year alone - he may have recorded more awesome songs that year than Elvis! And the year closes with the garage tapes? Bah gawd, those are the greatest home recordings in the history of music. 1957 may have been even better? And 1958 may be even better than that?!? After the apartment recordings close off everything recorded during his lifetime, it is on to the overdubbed versions and I will always find a lot of fun in some of the Fireballs recordings. Most of them, even - they kind of work for some, but others it just feels unnecessary. There are so many more of these songs than I remember; I always think it was like maybe 15 or 20 songs, but there is like 50 of them! It almost feels like every demo or home recording got The Fireballs treatment. This is quite possibly the best box set I have and will ever own.

Highlights: Rave On, Oh Boy!, Down the Line, I'm Gonna Set My Foot Down, Rock Around with Ollie Vee, It's So Easy, Not Fade Away, Crying Waiting Hoping [Fireballs Version], The Garage Tapes, The Apartment Tapes

9/10

Imagine if I had left these discs as separate albums - I could have deleted 5 other albums, like those NZ music compilations! Also, somewhere in all these Fireball versions was my 15,000th song. How am I only just reaching that now? How am I supposed to listen to another 10,000 in a third of the time?!?

Not Over You [Single] - Gavin DeGraw

Funnily enough, I heard this playing in the supermarket the other day. Dude has such a great voice. Why do I not that first album of his? Might be because he's a MAGA clown? Might be...

8/10

Not Shy - ITZY

Party time. Teen girls do not care what you think of them at all, so they are going to dance and since as much as they want, I guess?

Highlights: Don't Give a What, Not Shy, Be in Love, iD

8/10

NOTHING FROM NOTHING - Ayumi Hamasaki

Classic 90s hip-hop makes for a most lowkey debut for the Empress of J-Pop. She does sound like an annoying teenager here, but that kind of tracks considering she was only 17. I wonder what happened to the other dudes on this...

Highlights: Gut it-pez, NOTHING FROM NOTHING (Album Version), LIMIT, NOTHING FROM NOTHING (Single Version)

8/10

Now What - Lisa Marie Presley

The sophomore and final album from Elvis' daughter. The fact she collaborated with Linda Perry for most of it and a song features Pink should give an indication of the style of music here. Very radio pop rock. 

Highlights: I'll Figure it Out, Thanx, Now What, Turbulence

6.5/10

The Nylon Curtain - Billy Joel

A very political outing from Mr. Joel, covering things like the recession and the Vietnam war. Still channeling The Beatles pretty hard for the most part, too. 

Highlights: Goodnight Saigon, Allentown, She's Right on Time, Pressure

7.5/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1197

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2025 in 2025: Day 134

Nine Lives - Aerosmith

I loved this album back in 1997, but then it fell out of favour with me, your hero, LOGMAN. Well, today I will say it is certainly better than I remember. Hole in My Soul is maybe worse than I remember? So corny - and not in the usual way I like. I guess this was the start of them writing trite ballads and thinking that was all they needed to do. But yeah, this album feels kind of like an end of an era, while also being the start of another. 

Highlights: Ain't That a Bitch, Full Circle, Fallen Angels, Attitude Adjustment

7/10

Nirvana - Nirvana

Really, just call it a best of or greatest hits and call it day, guys! And IMO you could have left the Unplugged tracks in your suitcase. 

Highlights: You Know You're Right, Heart-Shaped Box, Pennyroyal Tea

8/10

No Code - Pearl Jam

Is this some sort of 90s morning? Edgelord LOGMAN always said this was the best Pearl Jam album, back when Pearl Jam was his favourite band. I am not sure how much edge someone has to consider this band to be the best - and especially an album as bland as this. Sure, there are a couple of really stand out moments, but the rest is just... here. Eddie Vedder is at his mumbley worst for half the time. And where the hell was Mike McCready?

Highlights: In My Tree, Present Tense, Habit, Who You Are

7/10

No Jacket Required - Phil Collins

I only have two songs from this album. By this point my 80s cred is in negative balance. In my defence, these are absolutely killer songs. Certainly an album that I need to complete at some point.

Highlights: Don't Lose My Number, Take Me Home

10/10

No Name Face - Lifehouse

Just... yawn. Their best song is not even on this album.

Highlights: Hanging By a Moment

6/10

No Shadow (Paxam Singles Series, Vol. 5) - Ryan Adams

When he stole my title, I knew it was all over. For both of us. No Shadow is just classic moody DRA. It's In My Head is very R.E.M. Stoned Alone is just trash.

Highlights: No Shadow, It's In My Head

6.5/10

No Way Out - Puff Daddy & The Family

So this is just I'll Be Missing You and it sure hits differently on a day when Puff Daddy has been sentenced to prison for being a bad, bad person. 

8/10

No. 4 - Stone Temple Pilots

This is a bit heavier and kind of reminds me of Core... just not as good. Like, really not as good. It is all fine and totally listenable, but there is nothing even resembling a hook anywhere to be found.

Highlights: Down, Pruno, Sex & Violence

6.5/10

NON TiE UP [Single] - BiSH

Bah gawd, this song is one massive epic angry and lewd sonic assault. It absolutely crushes. The "b-side" is suitably odd - like some sort of jazz fuzion thing, without losing the BiSH sound.

Highlights: NON TiE-UP, SHA!!HA!!NUA!!Ah.SHI!!ITE.

9/10

Non Zero Sumness - Planet Funk

This is purely the song Who Said (Stuck in the UK). Much like The Music, it is UK indie dance rock - with more emphasis on the dance part. It is a certified banger!

9/10

Non-Album Tracks - L7

Not sure where these all came from, but they are mostly great songs and a little more polished than your usual L7 recordings. Well, some are. Some are the usual lo-fi budget recordings I expect and long for. Mostly covers made to sound like L7.

Highlights: Gas Chamber, This Ain't the Summer of Love

6/10

Non-Album Tracks - Eminem

I do not know where Stimulate came from, but kids these days will never the pain of downloading The Kids off Napster and it would say it was the 'uncensored' version, but then you would listen and of course it would still be censored!

7/10

Non-Album Tracks - Heather Nova

A whole bunch of demos and live songs - I think she gave these out free for buying one of her albums? Or just for kicks? Some are interesting. It is all very acoustic and very chill.

Highlights: Stayin' Alive [Live in Copenhagen 2001], Throwing Fire at the Sun [Live in Japan 1995]

6/10

Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret - Soft Cell

It is only Tainted Love. I still have some 80s cred? Maybe?

8/10

Nonfiction [Single] - Ayumi Hamasaki

A total dance bop. Ayu's voice is frustrating in parts, but the production is so basic that it just makes you want to strut like a sexy bitch.

8/10

Most of today was NO or NON. A lot of negativity for one day...

"Albums" listened to so far: 1190

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2025 in 2025: Day 133

News of the World - Queen

It is Queen! Late-70s Queen! Which means iconic epic songs and anthems, hard rockin' fun, super chill songs - this album covers most of their bases. 

Highlights: We Are the Champions, Spread Your Wings, It's Late, We Will Rock You

8/10

News of the World: Raw Sessions - Queen

Pretty much the main reason to get the News of the World boxset. Just Brian May putting together an "alternate" version of the album. Clearly there were not many versions of Sleeping on the Sidewalk lying around, so they had to complete things with a live version. Some other songs get almost instrumental versions. 

Highlights: Spread Your Wings (Alternate Take), We Are the Champions (Alternate Version), It's Late (Alternate Version), All Dead All Dea (Original Rough Mix)

7/10

THE NEXT [BiSH Ver.] - BiSH

Just when they were supposed to be done, they go and release a song from the show to find the successor to BiSH. It is fine, no doubt better than the kids on the show did, but by no means classic BiSH.

7/10

→Next Generation - PSYCHIC LOVER

Bah gawd these guys know how to get the party back on track! Pretty much the classic PSYCHIC LOVER mix of bubblegum pop and 80s shred-tastic metal. 

Highlights: ネ・バ・ギ・ビ・ラ! ～ Never Give It Up, →Next Generation, Proud of Wings (instrumental)

8/10

Next Level - Ayumi Hamasaki

I always love that this album starts with such a beautiful song, and then quickly moves in to full-on pop and disco. I need to watch the concert from this tour again, because Ayu in that bob wig and her disco hoodie was absolutely iconic. That strings section in GREEN is about the smoothest thing since Disco Inferno, and lifts the song to places it probably would not deserve otherwise. There are like 4 or 5 instrumentals on here, but they actually flow seamlessly and you do not even notice half of them. Pretty well flawless album, this one!

Highlights: NEXT LEVEL, EnergizE, Days, Rule, rollin'

9/10

A Night at the Opera - Queen

More ICONIC 70s Queen, you say? The crazy thing about this album is it most of this album is some of their biggest hits and most epic recordings. And every so often, they split things up with just pure nonsense and silliness. Bohemian Rhapsody gets all the attention (and deservedly so), but The Prophet's Song is the most adventurous song and features the most incredible vocal layering. And the most perfect heavy guitar tone for about 20 seconds.

Highlights: The Prophet's Song, Bohemian Rhapsody, 39, Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)

8/10

Night in the Ruts - Aerosmith

I lost track of things somewhere and realised this album was on. Seriously. It just encapsulates the most mediocre ideas about how mediocre Aerosmith could be.

Highlights: No Surpize

5.5/10

Night Visions - Imagine Dragons

Once again, how did I end up with this album in my iTunes library? It is not bad or anything, but I barely know 1 song by this band. Oh hey, this song sounds familiar - maybe I have heard that one before, as well? They sound like Coldplay for a modern audience, which is weird considering we still have Coldplay out there touring being Coldplay. I think they still make albums, too?

Highlights: It's Time, On Top of the World, Amsterdam, Working Man

6.5/10

Nimrod - Green Day

Green Day sounding like a less-awesome Living End; this album has some fun, but has them veering further away from pop punk styles of their earlier albums. Really not sure what you would even call this, other than radio rock that could not even make it on radio? I am actually being quite harsh - this album is enjoyable for the most part - it just was very disappointing for someone that had these guys as one of my favourite bands as a teenager. There is none of the fire Dookie and Insomniac had. But I had forgotten about some of the gems on this album, so that is on me.

Highlights: Haushinka, Uptight, The Grouch, Hitchin' a Ride

7/10

Nine - blink-182

This is a real mature album for these dudes; no silly skits or crude lyrics. Just a bunch of earnest pop punk with a bit of emo in there with some electro fun thrown for extra good times. For me, this is the spiritual successor to self-titled and a testament to how much better they were with Skiba.

Highlights: Pin the Grenade, Blame it on My Youth, No Heart to Speak Of, The First Time

8/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1175

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2025 in 2025: Day 132

Neon Nights - Danni Minogue

Kylie was all the rage again, so it made sense for Danni to get it on the action as well. This album is a tour de force of discofied electro pop. And, honestly, it defies expectations. Non-stop groove. The mashups are suspiciously well done, also.

Highlights: Hey! (So What), Come and Get It, Put the Needle On It, Creep, I Begin to Wonder

7.5/10

Never a Dull Moment - Tommy Lee

He totally should have billed himself as Tömmy Lee. It is all fairly generic modern hard rock. Like Foo Fighters meets Limp Bizkit doing a... Bowie cover. That last part is for real. I am not sure why, but I genuinely expected better from Mr. Lee. Still, better than any other solo album other Crüe members have released since 1993...

Highlights: Fame 02, Blue, Higher

6/10

Never Take Friendship Personal - Anberlin

Time for some mid-00s christian emo! Such an oxymoron. Or just a bunch of morons? That criticism aside, this is just classic emo rock. Some great riffs and cool screams. Lyrics get a bit pretentious, like most emo, but generally the melodies are on point. I will attest until my dying days that I could have improved A Day Late if they had recorded with me in the booth; the chorus just needed a little vocal repeat in the hook and it would have been perfect. Producer LOGMAN always knows best. Lyrics for that song, though, are super cringe; you are a happy christian man with "a lover" wondering what it would have been like to been "lovers" with your friend? Keep that to yourself, buddy! The first 15 seconds of Time & Confusion are killer. Maybe this album just hits me as something that had great potential and falls just short and that is what gets such a reaction from me? Is that the story of my morning so far?? Why am I writing so much about this album?!?

Highlights: Dance Dance Christa Päffgen, The Feel Good Drag, Time & Confusion, Paperthin Hymn

7/10

Nevermind - Nirvana

I want to hate this album. I want to tell you it is overrated and Nirvana are lame. I want to tell you grunge is lame. I want to tell you all sorts of edgelord nonsense. I really do! But by the time that first pre-chorus builds and the chorus explodes in Smells Like Teen Spirit, there is no use pretending. I know the truth. You know the truth. We all know the truth. I have the Butch Vig mix and it being the superior mix is the hill I will die on.

Highlights: Lounge Act, On a Plain, Stay Away, In Bloom

9/10

New Adventures in Hi-Fi - R.E.M.

New adventures in Ebow! This album is a bit more palatable than Monster, and certainly a bit more relaxed. And Peter Buck clearly just discovered how to use an Ebow.

Highlights: The Wake-Up Bomb, E-Bow the Letter, Leave, Bittersweet Me

6.5/10

New Clear Days - The Vapors

This is only the song Turning Japanese. Very appropriate. Give me more Japanese rock instead, please.

8/10

The New Golden Age (Live At Coachella 2008) - Prince

So this actually opens with Prince live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, performing Turn Me Loose, before launching in to a listenable bootleg of Prince performing at Coachella. A fantastic mix of classics and newer material, and a whole barrel of covers done VERY well. And HOLY BUDDY CHRIST OF DOG RIVER not only is the band in good form, but Prince's guitar playing just puts everyone to shame. I thought his solo in Creep - yes, the Radiohead song - was amazing, but then he pulled out some sort of Hendrix-inspired blues solo jamming in Come Together and my face melted and I am dead. My corpse is going to finish my bLog for me.

Highlights: Come Together, Creep, Purple Rain, Turn Me Loose, Controversy/Housequake

8/10

New Jersey - Bon Jovi

This album is better than it has any right to be; I do not think there is another album of the 1980s that even comes close to achieving what Bon Jovi did here. Almost everything is epic in nature, without sounding overblown or overproduced. If you are looking for some of the best straight up rock songs Bon Jovi ever recorded, or the best power ballads they ever recorded, then this is the place to come. There is not a bad moment on the whole darn thing. Not even an average one!

Highlights: Stick to Your Guns, Wild is the Wind, I'll Be There For You, Blood on Blood - but really, just listen to the whole album

10/10

New Tattoo - Mötley Crüe

The Crüe return without all that modern nonsense of Generation Swine - including that awesome drummer of theirs, because Tommy hated them too much and wanted to make rap-rock instead. Things are still showing hints of punk, but it is more radio rock than anything. Definitely nothing as heavy as Dr. Feelgood or where they have headed since.

Highlights: Hell on High Heels, First Band on the Moon, She Needs Rock N Roll, Fake

7/10

New World Disorder - Biohazard

The title is like what happened in WCW when we had the New World Order Black & White, New World Order Wolfpac, and the Latino World Order. Fun times were had by all! Interestingly, this album came out around the same time all that was happening! All this anger at politicians and war and fascism and the general state of the world makes for the perfect soundtrack while tracking the Sumud Flotilla and watching activists get arrested by a terrorist regime.

Highlights: Switchback, Cycle of Abuse, Inner Fear On, Resist

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1165

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2025 in 2025: Day 131

A N D - Tricot

Look, iTunes, I see what you were doing here... but it is weird. Just like Tricot can be, some times. Bah gawd, these songs have so much attack - they sound like they are just straight-up beating these songs out of their instruments. I think the kids call this math rock? All the crazy time signatures and whatnot are fun and all, but I kind of prefer when the songs are a bit more straight indie rock. Either way, this is all pretty badassery.

Highlights: Noradrenaline, い～ん (A N D ver.), 食卓, Break

7/10

Nameless Fiction - Hello Sleepwalkers

More Japanese indie math-rock style? This time with a bit more of a RADWIMPS flavour. Having both male and female vocals gives a nice mix.

Highlights: 天地創造, Mr.Dの手記

6.5/10

Native (Deluxe Edition) - OneRepublic

This album often feels like reworkings of other songs. Honestly, I think they should have at least given Kanye and Florence + the Machine songwriting credits. Some of their stuff is pretty average, but certainly when they are copying other people is when they are at their best.

Highlights: Burning Bridges, Life in Color, Counting Stars, If I Lose Myself

6/10

Nature's Best - Various Artists

How do I have YET ANOTHER compilation of New Zealand music? And more than half the songs here are duplicates from the other New Zealand music compilations I have. I do not need ANY Dave Dobbyn in my life. BUT I will take this as a fun excuse to listen to Jesus I Was Evil again...

Highlights: Six Months in a Leaky Boat - Split Enz, Jesus I Was Evil - Darcy Clay, I See Red - Split Enz

7/10

Naveed - Our Lady Peace

Fun story time: I got this album for free when I bought Clumsy on CD, but later decided I did not think much of it and traded it in. A few years later, I realised I was stupid and had to buy it again. Early OLP had so much passion and energy in their songs. The result of having an awesome drummer and a singer that goes hard. Denied is just unhinged!

Highlights: Denied, Naveed, Starseed, Julia

7.5/10

Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

Fairly predictable American country-pop. They sure love their Americana and... drinking alcohol, apparently. I am not saying this is bad, I am just saying this is an hour I could have spent listening to more Our Lady Peace, because Canadian alt. rock is clearly a better option, and after that album I really need a dose of Happiness...

Highlights: Perfect Day, Our Kind of Love

6/10

Neighborhoods - blink-182

The first 'reunion' album... I have not bothered with the second reunion, yet. Mostly because I thought Skiba was an improvement. Especially after this album; there are some great songs that follow on nicely from the self-titled album, but Tom's voice is pretty bad and the recordings do not hide the fact they were not really enjoying this. The fact they recorded their stuff separately is quite apparent. 

Highlights: After Midnight, Snake Charmer, Mh 4.18.2011, Even If She Falls

6.5/10

Nellyville - Nelly

Dissing KRS-One is not cool. The rest of this album, however, is. Which is bizarre, because it is just the epitome of early 00s hip-hop; super slick production, rapping about yachts, blues guitar, The Neptunes and even a cameo Justin Timberlake (before the NSYNC split). But Nelly just has a swagger that works, for me. But, like, the real hip-hop is over there...

Highlights: Hot in Herre, On the Grind, Work It, Say Now, #1

7/10

Nena - Nena

This is only the song 99 Red Balloons. Because I am from the 80s where it is law to enjoy this song. I think I need the Goldfinger cover as well, because that was pretty rad. It was Goldfinger, right? Apparently pop punk covers of 80s pop songs works.

8/10

Neon Ballroom - Silverchair

This album was the first steps in changing my mind about Silverchair; until this, I saw them as purely some stupid kids trying to sound like Nirvana and they sucked. This is very far from that. Big epic songs with manic piano pieces and orchestral arrangements, angry screams about animal liberation, heartfelt ballads and straight decent radio rock numbers. Their follow-up album was even better musically, but for some reason I have never picked it up. I am a weird person to try and understand... And some of this album still sounds like Nirvana wannabes.

Highlights: Anthem for the Year 2000, Miss You Love, Ana's Song (Open Fire), Point of View

7/10

"Albums" listened to so far: 1155

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2025 in 2025: Day 130

My Instant Song [Single] - MONOEYES

Two bonus songs means LOGMAN has to purchase. Especially since they played When I Was King at Fireball Fest, so I needed it to complete the playlist!

Highlights: My Instant Song, When I Was King, What I Left Today

8/10

My Lives - Billy Joel

Things kick off with a few demos from the 60s. They are very poor quality and heavily influenced by The Beatles. They actually end up sounding like a band that is copying a band that is trying to sound like The Beatles. Then Joel goes solo and it gets all 'Paul McCartney meets Ray Charles' - in a good way! Not sure he needed to make a reggae version of any of his songs. And this whole set could be a lot shorter if they did not include so many final album cuts. Then we get some fairly average live cuts, and things close out with Billy Joel trying his hand at classical compositions. I guess.

Highlights: I Go to Extremes (Live), The River of Dreams (Alternate Version), Zanzibar, Christie Lee (Demo), Captain Jack (Live)

6/10

My Own Destruction - ELLEGARDEN

Yes please. 細美さん making silly songs about dating a woman twice his age, and sandwiching it between an angry diss at his ex AND one of the most emo songs in the entire ELLEGARDEN catalogue was a choice. A good one! I am not sure if you realise this, but I quite like this ELLEGARDEN band.

Highlights: 右手, Jamie, Under Control, おやすみ

9/10

My Soul - Coolio

This is only C U When U Get There. I'll C U when I get more Coolio!

8/10

MY STORY - Ayumi Hamasaki

When that first chorus for About You kicks in, it is just massive! Like everything on this album. Every song has so much emotion just pouring out of it - even the instrumentals and the quiet chill-out tracks like HAPPY ENDING. I could be wrong, but this feels like her most guitar rock-centred album; there is some dance pop and some R&B style in here - it is Ayu, so you will always get diversity - but it just feels like 90% of the songs were written on guitar. Which accounts for why this album is just full of the tastiest most perfect guitar solos. And her vocal performance is just perfection. I want to break the marathon just to listen to this album again. M is for Moments Is A Perfect Song? M is for My Favourite Album?

Highlights: Moments, winding road, About You, GAME

9/10

M started with Ayu and ended with Ayu. And the Ayu albums in-between were the friends we made along the way...

"Albums" listened to so far: 1145

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