TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 22, 2024 8:53:42 GMT 1
85 Kate Bush - The Red ShoesWhat is going on? Kate Bush above all these other acts. Yes 2022 was the year that I finally appreciated Kate Bush, yes I liked a few songs but generally no. The seventh album and it is quite a bit different for her.'Rubberband Girl' is one of her best singles but generally this is a much more chilled out, atmospheric experience. Which is so 1993, sitting coimforting next to Bjork and trip hop. The record reached #2 in the UK and #28 in the US. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 22, 2024 9:02:21 GMT 1
84 Gary Clark - Ten Short Songs About LoveThe debut album from the ex Danny Wilson frontman. 'We Sail on Stormy Waters' manages to keep up the standard of Danny Wilson but in general, although I love his voice and songwriting, the band is what made his music so interesting, they are still involved but not enough, it is just so straightforward. So pleasant enough but a little disappointing. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 22, 2024 20:50:20 GMT 1
83 Thousand Yard Stare - MappamundiAnother disappointing album is the third record from the indie rock band from Slough, this was the last LP until their comeback in 2020. The single 'Version Of Me' is good but nothing else has the wit or energy of previous releases. I would skip this one unless you are an indie landfill completionist. That is a bit mean, its fine. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 22, 2024 20:55:12 GMT 1
82 Crash Test Dummies - God Shuffled His FeetWe included the debut in 1991's list but this is the record that broke them and most people know. Thanks of course to one of the quirkiest hits of the year "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". I did really like that song but I actually preferred the follow-up "Afternoons & Coffeespoons". The first half of this album is superb but gets a bit boring by the end. I feel if I had bought it at the time, I would probably give it a higher rating, it was not far from a 4. The record reached #2 in the UK and #9 in the US. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 22, 2024 21:01:50 GMT 1
81 Better Than Ezra - DeluxeA very similar story to the previous record, this is also a second album. It also features their biggest and best song 'Good' which will be a hit in 1995 when this album is re-issued on a major label. Better Than Ezra were quite a bit ahead of their time as you can hear emo in their sound already but generally they are a grunge adjacent band with a sound which is Weezer meets Screaming Trees. Sadly nothing on this album is as epic as the big hit and as previous, suffers as I have not lived with these songs for very long. The record reached #35 in the UK. a high 3.5/5
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Post by greendemon on Jan 23, 2024 0:48:51 GMT 1
So far a few artists I'm familiar with but shockingly not too many albums I know very well.
I do know what my #1 is for this year and I suspect you do as well.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 23, 2024 8:22:34 GMT 1
Yes I know what that is and early spoiler I enjoyed it even more than I expected when I recently replayed it.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 23, 2024 8:49:02 GMT 1
80 Jellyfish - Spilt Milk
The second and last album from the US rock band. Not much to say, if you know Jellyfish you know what you are getting. I did enjoy this album but it just didn't hit as hard as the debut, some strong highlights but just I dunno, it lacks something. The record reached #21 in the UK and #164 in the US. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 23, 2024 8:58:24 GMT 1
79 Jam & Spoon - Tripomatic FairytalesThese lists do not really show how much into dance music I was at the time due to most making poor albums but Jam & Spoon are an exception not only producing one of the best Eurodance songs of the year 'Right In The Night' they also played a huge part in introducing trance into the mainstream. Under other names J&S have made some of the best early trance, most notably 'Age Of Love' which you would hear out of every 2nd market stall at Glastonbury. This may sound a little primitive in places and a couple have that dated italo house sound but generally this is a brilliant trance pop record. The record reached #71 in the UK. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 23, 2024 13:24:38 GMT 1
78 The Wonder Stuff - Construction for the Modern IdiotTheir fourth album and it has some good songs but the standard has dropped a bit, this is nowhere on the same level as their first three records. It is still of course good as Wonderstuff are never bad, it is just sounding a bit tired in places. Put this down to the album turnaround which is still happening, basically 4 albums in 5 years!! This will also be their final album until they reform in 2004 which again tells a story. This record reached #4 in the UK. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 23, 2024 13:34:23 GMT 1
77 Aerosmith - Get A GripThe eleventh album from the hard rockers and it is a tricky one to review. I will start by saying the lows are not as low as some Aerosmith records but the highs are fewer as well. 'Livin' on the Edge' is still one of their best songs and the heavy MTV played duo of 'Crazy' and 'Cryin' will always have a special nostalgia. Some of the other singles not so successful such as 'Shut Up And dance' and 'Eat The Rich' So on the whole not their best album by any stretch but plenty to enjoy. The record reached #1 in the US and #2 in the UK and has sold around 10 million worldwide. 3.5/5 (remove a couple of tracks and it would be a 4)
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 23, 2024 13:38:17 GMT 1
76 Dodgy - The Dodgy Album
I reallu liked Dodgy from the start, I bought all the singles from this record but hadn't heard this one in full before. Well the problem with Dodgy is they aren't dodgy enough, they are just too nice and pleasant. Absolutely nothing to dislike here but it is all very safe Brit Pop. They may not get dodgier but they will get better than this. The record reached #75 in the UK. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 24, 2024 8:42:26 GMT 1
75 Cracker - Kerosene HatThe second album from the US rock band which features Cracker's most famous song 'Low' which is a total MTV2 classic. As to be expected from David Lowery though, there is still a lot of weird genres and songs on this record so if you are expecting a lot of alt rock bangers, that is not what you get. I did hope to enjoy it more than I did. The album reached #69 in the UK. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 24, 2024 22:14:14 GMT 1
74 U2 - ZooropaNow we have the eighth album from U2, and it is their least good so far. Basically a sister album to 'Achtung Baby' it leans even further into dance music and it has some successes 'Lemon' especially but very little of the rock and ballads of previous records with only 'Stay (Faraway, So Close!)' being a more traditional sounding U2 song. But mostly It's either boring or a bit rubbish, it would have made a brilliant EP. It was still a huge initial success, though, reaching #1 in the UK and US. It also sold over 7 million worldwide. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 24, 2024 22:18:54 GMT 1
73 Curve - CuckooCrazy but this is only their 2nd album and already the band are falling of the map. Everything you love about Curve is still here, just not as good. Most of the blame goes on Flood, his production just does not lent anything to the band's sound. I of course still like this record just apart from 'Superblaster' It's just not very memorable. The record reached #23 in the UK. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 24, 2024 22:24:13 GMT 1
72 Porno for Pyros - Porno for PyrosSometimes side project from the Jane's Addiction guys usually when they are missing members. The lead single 'Pets' is awesome and I saw the band live preforming this record and it was amazing but the album itself is a bit mid. Some great stuff but you just feel it is lacking something and of course it is 'Dave Navarro'. Just some of the imagination and shock in Jane's Addiction is missing with this project. It still did very well though reaching #3 in the US and #13 in the UK. 3.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 24, 2024 22:28:54 GMT 1
71 Letters to Cleo - Aurora Gory AliceNow a band I missed at the time but have heard more and more from over the last 10 years or so. Most famous for the single "Here & Now", they is plenty more of the same. I am so annoyed I missed this band at the time as I was so into bands like Garbage or No Doubt who became huge making similar music. But now I see the album only reached '#123 even in the US so maybe they grew in fame overtime. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 25, 2024 22:17:52 GMT 1
70 Tasmin Archer - Great ExpectationsStill not in 4/5 territory yet but getting so close with Tasmin's debut. Way more than a one hit wonder, so many great songs on this record. I kind of think of her as the Joan Armatrading of the 90s and it is a pity she falls off the map after this album. But we will see when we come to her next one. This album reached #8 in the UK and was gold. 3.5/5
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 25, 2024 22:21:55 GMT 1
69 Revolver - Cold Water FlatThe second album from the shoegaze band and I wanted to like this more but I had to admit that this is not a 4/5 album. It is a very solid album but there is just nothing that jumps out and it doesn't work as a soundscape either, it is just perfectly fine shoegaze rock. The record failed to chart. 3.5/5
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Post by TheThorne on Jan 25, 2024 22:27:35 GMT 1
68 The Fat Lady Sings - John SonThis was a very pleasant surprise. After loving their debut, I had never heard anything of the follow-up well it is pretty great. This could well be a big grower as nothing on this can compete with 'Arc-Light' or 'Deborah' which I have been playing for over 30 years so hearing a collection of new songs for the first time, is not going to throw this straight into the higher echelons of the list. It also didn't even chart in their native Ireland but anyway it's getting the first... 4/5
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