Fun-sized reviews of albums
Combat Rock – The Clash
Slightly overwhelmed and out of my circle of competence in this British grunge world but truly enjoyed it.
Top songs: Rock the Casbah, Should I Stay or Should I Go, Know Your Rights, Death is a Star
Daylight Again – Crosby, Stills & Nash
Some of CSN’s later stuff, not as good but still they have moved themselves to being a top 10 band in my life.
Top songs: Turn Your Back on Love, Southern Cross, Daylight Again
CSN – Crosby, Stills & Nash
No skips. Instead of adding these to a playlist, I just listen to it all the way through. CSN showed up to mess around and make spectacular yacht rock.
Top songs: In My Dreams, Fair Game, Cathedral, Just A Song Before I Go
Tea For The Tillerman – Yusuf/Cat Stevens
More chill ’70s rock. The album covers look straight out of Alice in Wonderland and it kinda fits his vibe.
Top songs: Wild World, Sad Lisa, Hard Headed Woman, But I Might Die Tonight
Teaser And The Firecat – Yusuf/Cat Stevens
Giving “House on Pooh Corner” but as an entire album. Delicate, peaceful, outdoorsy–all you really need.
Top songs: I Want To Live In A Wigwam, Rubylove, The Wind
Silk Degrees – Boz Scaggs
If you know me, you know my love for “Lowdown.” Never convinced Scaggs doesn’t have a frog in his throat, but he can make some catchy upbeat music.
Top songs: Lowdown, What Can I Say, Georgia
Five-A-Side – Ace
Almost thought they were a one hit wonder, thank goodness I kept listening. Grooviest album around.
Top songs: How Long, Why, The Real Feeling, Time Ain’t Long
Christopher Cross – CC
Glee tried to ruin Christopher Cross for me but was thankfully unsuccessful. He is the captain of Yacht Rock and so is this album.
Top songs: Ride Like The Wind, The Light Is On, Sailing, I Really Don’t Know Anymore
Aja – Steely Dan
Another home run. Perfect late night on porch vibes. Don’t think I’ll ever understand the song names though.
Top songs: Deacon Blues, Aja, Black Cow, Josie
The Royal Scam – Steely Dan
They’re funkiest and jammiest album, with a special shoutout for “Don’t Take Me Alive.” Allegedly “the most hideous album cover of the seventies,” yet it’s still my current obsession.
Top songs: Don’t Take Me Alive, Haitian Divorce, The Fez, The Royal Scam
Is This Is – The Strokes
Didn’t realize how much college live bands love this band until this listen. A little more poppier and 2000’s than the others but always appreciated.
Top songs: Someday, Along, Together, Last Nite
Can’t Buy A Thrill – Steely Dan
So this was Steely Dan’s intro to the world. I can’t even imagine how everyone responded to their first “Do It Again” listen. A unique twang that spans generations.
Top songs: Do It Again, Dirty Work, Only A Fool Would Say That, Fire In The Hole
The Stone Roses – TSR
Grungy, like the Smashing Pumpkins if they were British. Strong opener and finishes off with two fun 8+ minute songs.
Top songs: I Wanna Be Adored, Made of Stone, Shoot You Down
Love & Hate – Michael Kiwanuka
My introduction to a 10-minute masterpiece. Another very unique sound, modern chill, piano-ish jazz maybe? Genuinely a story in each song.
Top songs: Cold Little Heart (10 MIN VERSION), Love & Hate, One More Night, Rule The World
Something You Needed – Flipturn
Will never not be thinking or writing about this EP.
Top songs: Something You Needed, Poppies, Glistening
Shadowglow – Flipturn
Magical. Magnificent. Engrained in springtime and flowers budding and good smells and days elongating. Simply an incomparable album and band.
Top songs: Sad Disco, Halfway (Acoustic), In Consideration, Hollow
Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. – HS
I just fear it’s day three, and I’m starting to get tired of the ones I liked. Only critical because of what he’s given us in the past. Corny album name but catchy songs.
Top songs: Pop, Carla’s Song, American Girls
Comedown Machine – The Strokes
A little too electronic-leaning than The New Abnormal but “Call It Fate, Call It Karma” is a classic that shall live on forever.
Top songs: Call It Fate, Call It Karma, Welcome to Japan
The New Abnormal – The Strokes
Going to be caught up on this one for quite some time. They have such a specific sound and still are able to create 9 different beautiful songs out of it. Oh my god I love it.
Top songs: Ode To The Mets, Why Are Sundays So Depressing, The Adults Are Talking, Selfless
True Blue – Madonna
Thank you, Madonna episode of Glee. This girl knows how to put a spectacular ’80s pop song together.
Top songs: Papa Don’t Preach, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
Not a huge fan but respect to da art. Felt a whole lot like Pink Floyd’s The Wall (I now realize Pink Floyd probably took inspiration from this album, not the other way around).
Top songs: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, A Day In The Life
Let It Be – The Beatles
More McCartney influence, you can just tell.
Top songs: Across the Universe, I Me Mine, Let It Be, Get Back
Help! – The Beatles
Good, less bangers but “The Night Before” makes up for that.
Top songs: The Night Before, Help!, Yesterday
Abbey Road – The Beatles
I get it.
Top songs: I Want You (She’s So Heavy), Here Comes the Sun, Come Together, You Never Give Me Your Money
McCartney – Paul McCartney
A bunch of cute 2-minute melodies. Sounds more like The Beatles’ stuff.
Top songs: Every Night, Junk
Ram On – Paul & Linda McCartney
Ram On is genuine heaven in a song. Not sure what his obsession with a ram is about but these songs are exactly what I needed out of his archives.
Top songs: Ram On, Dear Boy, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, Hey Diddle
Turn Back The Clock – Johnny Hates Jazz
Johnny actually loves jazz the way he puts this kind of music out. You gotta love him for it.
Top songs: Shattered Dreams, Don’t Let It End This Way, Turn Back The Clock
H2O – Hall & Oates
Lowkey some sleepers in here. Pleasantly surprised, indeed. Some spectacular pop rock ’80s.
Top songs: Maneater, One On One, Open All Night, Family Man
Harry Styles – Harry Styles
My favorite of his by far. Gosh I really hope his new album leans into this over the later ones. His FMac love shines through in this one.
Top songs: Meet Me in the Hallway, Woman, Sign of the Times, From the Dining Table
Rebel – EsDeeKid
Breh. I am prob not the target audience but I get it. Just the definition of crazy British drill.
Top songs: 4 Raws, Cali Man, Phantom, Mist
Band On The Run – Paul McCartney & Wings
I’ve done everything but listen to a Beatles’ album recently. This one was splendid indeed, good easy fun listening. Thanks Paul.
Top songs: Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five, Mrs. Vandebilt, Bluebird, Band On The Run
AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP – A$AP Rocky
Holy wow. This is basically if SDP Interlude extended was made into an album. His experimentation needs to be talked about more because just WOW so many wild home runs.
Top songs: Holy Ghost, L$D, Pharsyde, Wavybone, Jukebox Joints
Crosby, Stills & Nash – CSN
Some hippie freaks making lovely hippie lullabies. And to think I ever thought Neil Young was the special sauce to this band. An album full of harmonies that feel like they should never work but are more heavenly than I could’ve ever imagined.
Top songs: Helplessly Hoping, Wooden Ships, Guinnevere, You Don’t Have to Cry
Last Time Around – Buffalo Springfield
Finishing the Springfield trilogy off right. “Carefree Country Day” is a nice descriptor of the entire album’s vibe.
Top songs: I Am a Child, Pretty Girl Why, Kind Woman, Carefree Country Day
Rhapsody in White – The Love Unlimited Orchestra
An insane, soundtrack-worthy orchestra paired with the occasional crazy deep voice. Love it.
Top songs: Love’s Theme, Baby Blues, Midnight And You
OCTANE – Don Toliver
I liked the pre-released singles but it was no Heaven or Hell. My expectations are only so high because he put them there. Holding out for more from Don.
Top songs: Tiramisu, ATM, Secondhand
Year of the Cat – Al Stewart
“Year of the Cat” is 6 minutes and 40 seconds of spectacular. Al’s got such a beautiful Rodriguez-type sound, it’s instrumental and mystical idk
Top songs: Year of the Cat, On the Border, Midas Shadow, One Stage Before
Don’t Be Dumb – A$AP Rocky
Gave me everything I wanted (but didn’t get) from 21’s new album and also sounded like it belonged in ’60s jazz bar at times. Never been a big A$AP girl but maybe it’s time for that to change.
Top songs: STAY HERE 4 LIFE, PLAYA, WHISKEY, ROBBERY
Not Your Muse – Celeste
Long overdue listen. Everything this woman touches (or sings) is gold. This is what every Olivia Dean wants to amount to.
Top songs: Tonight Tonight, Love Is Back, Stop This Flame, Lately
Swimming – Mac Miller
Gosh did he know how to culminate such a specific vibe. Some of the chillest yet warmest of feelings. Empty blue skies and any Mac album over many things.
Top songs: Hurt Feelings, Wings, Ladders, So It Goes
NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES – Metro/21
An experience. Every transition better than the last. Every instrumental track has millions of listens… I think that speaks for itself. So genuinely no skips.
Top songs: Overdue, Borrowed Love, 10AM/Save The World, Up To Something
American Beauty – Grateful Dead
About time I venture into Deadhead territory. A spectacular entire production, a press-play-and-let-it-run type of album.
Top songs: Friend of the Devil, Candyman, Ripple, Till the Morning Comes
Buffalo Springfield Again – Buffalo Springfield
A great and improved sequel. Feeling revolutionary. Incredible how this band seems like a side thought that turned out fun sounds.
Top songs: Rock & Roll Woman, Sad Memory, Hung Upside Down, Expecting to Fly
Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfield
A folk-twang on Beatles’ style harmonies. Clearly rushed work but showed the Buffalo promise.
Top songs: Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing, Do I Have to Come Right out and Say It, Flying on the Ground Is Wrong
Deadbeat – Tame Impala
**RE-RATING** Again, my anti-techno predispositions made me initially more hateful than needed. I find myself returning again and again.
Top songs: Obsolete, My Old Ways, Dracula
Currents – Tame Impala
**RE-RATING** Previously thought it was too techno for my liking, then realized how these songs are all over my playlists and was forced to realize how I must like it
Top songs: TLIKTB, Let It Happen, New Person Same Old Mistakes, Taxi’s Here (B-Sides)
Deja Vu – CSNY
“Must be because I had the flu for Christmas.” Real. Perfect delivery. Gives you a taste of many different moods in that America-style way.
Top songs: Almost Cut My Hair, Country Girl, Woodstock, Carry On
House of the Holy – Zep
Two albums shy of completing a Zepathon and outside of I and III, this took the cake. I get Heart’s obsession with them more and more every listen.
Top songs: The Rain Song, The Ocean, literally all of them
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STREETS? – 21
Intro made me think it was going to be so menacing then it ended up sounding like a bad Drake album. Unfortunate indeed.
Top songs: CODE OF HONOR, HALFTIME INTERLUDE, WHERE YOU FROM
The King – Sarah Kinsley
One of the cutest EPs to ever exist. Clean and simple yet lovesick and complex.
Top songs: The King, Karma, I’m Not a Mountain
Norman F***ing Rockwell! – Lana
What a spunky and sad girl. Solid studying music when the air is too cold to go outside.
Top songs: Cinnamon Girl, Bartender, California, Mariners Apartment Complex
The Cars – The Cars
Top 100 album. Top 10 album cover. Not sure how unique their sound actually is, but this is the definition of late ’70s rock.
Top songs: Moving in Stereo, Good Times Roll, All Mixed Up
Coming from Reality – Rodriguez
100% had to have inspired Warehouse Dave’s “Stones of Jasper.” Written on a beach, with nothing to do but surf and write.
Top songs: To Whom It May Concern, It Started Out So Nice
Cold Fact – Rodriguez
Insanely unique sound. I feel like you could find him sneaking around with the tumbleweed and such out in the wild west.
Top songs: Rich Folk Hoax, Hate Streets Dialogue, Forget It
Tapestry – Carole King
Convinced she recorded this in a closet. Jess from New Girl would love this album. Not exactly for me though.
Top songs: I Feel the Earth Move, It’s Too Late, Way Over Yonder
The Art of Loving – Olivia Dean
If Adele and Celeste had a love child during COVID TikTok. Where did she even come from?
Top songs: Nice to Each Other, Close Up, Baby Steps, The Art of Loving (Intro)
The SteelDrivers – The SteelDrivers
No skips. If If It Hadn’t Been For Love has not been put over the opening scene of anything like Yellowstone or Where the Crawdads Sing, then the world has been done a disservice.
Top songs: If It Hadn’t Been For Love, Blue Side Of The Mountain, Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey, Heaven Sent
Higher – Chris Stapleton
Jazzy, blues rock. Not Traveller, no, but something much more Watchhouse-esc. Something that (to me) could only be created in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Top songs: Think I’m In Love With You, The Fire, Crosswind, Mountains Of My Mind
Live on Red Barn Radio I & II – Tyler Childers
29 minutes that sound like crispy leaves falling from the trees. My favorite Childers’ release that gifts us with a perfect, folk-filled transition into November.
Top songs: Charleston Girl, Whitehouse Road, Deadman’s Curve, Shake the Frost
Rodeo – Travis Scott
Psychedelic, experimental, monumental–whole album reminded me how good and great La Flame is. He should collab w/ Tame Impala again.
Top songs: Pray 4 Love, 3500, Oh My Dis Side, Maria I’m Drunk, 90210, Nightcrawler
Off the Wall – Michael Jackson
Classic ’70s transitioning into ’80s, so clearly early Michael, the better side of pop that leans disco. Good for post-work, early evening excitement.
Top songs: Off the Wall, Workin’ Day and Night, Rock with You, I Can’t Help It
If You’re Reading This it’s Too Late – Drake
An era of greatness I don’t see Drake ever touching again. No heartbreak, no BS, just solid beats and fire rap.
Top songs: 6 God, 10 Bands, Know Yourself, Star67, Madonna, Jungle, Used To
Submarine – Alex Turner
Feeling 15 years behind on the Alex Turner train. This 6-song EP gives a slower, more reflective tone to Taylor Swift-type themes. I think he struck gold with the chorus in Piledriver waltz.
Top songs: Piledriver waltz, Stuck on the puzzle, Hiding tonight
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