Here we go again. Table of contents:
- Third Eye Blind – Self-Titled (1997)
- Sly and the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Going On (1971)
- Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
- System of a Down – Toxicity (2001)
- Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell (2015)
- Danny Brown – Quaranta (2023)
- Al Green – Let’s Stay Together (1972)
- Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
Third Eye Blind – Self-Titled (1997)
Genre: Alternative Rock
Recommended for: Lovers of emo-ish alt rock shit
I wish you would step back from that leeeedge my friend. Third Eye Blind’s self titled 97 album has picked up a lot of steam recently as being an underrated 90’s album. I really love Jumper, great song, and there’s a few other great ones on there, but nowhere near the top of the 90’s alt rock charts in my book.
Favorite songs: Jumper, How’s It Going To Be, Thanks A Lot, Burning Man
My Ranking: Solid
Sly and the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Going On (1971)
Genre: Funk, Soul
Recommended for: Funky folks of all shapes, sizes ad colors (and all the other stuff)
This is some fuuunky ass shit! One of my favorite albums of my recent listens. Fantastic, groovy, funky, Sly and his family members all can fucking sing too. Great fucking album!
Favorite songs: Luv N Haight, Just Like a Baby, Family Affair, (You Caught Me) Smilin’
My Ranking: Really good
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)
Genre: Indie/Alternative
Recommended for: Artsy people, Alternative music lovers
One of the most respected Indie records of the 00s. If I was more of an intricacies of music guy I think I would appreciate this Animal Collective record even more than I do, but as a man who enjoys a lot of consonance and melodies in his music, I found this record too be a bit too layered, sophisticated, etc. for my taste. If it’s for you, have at it. I do really like the song linked though. Great build to chorus.
Favorite songs: My Girls, Summertime Clothes
My Ranking: Solid
System of a Down – Toxicity (2001)
Genre: Metal, Thrash
Recommended for: Metalheads
Wakeup! Grababrushandputalittlemake-up! That’s these guys. I do respect this record, but for me this just solidified that I am not a metalhead. Punk yes, metal no.
Favorite songs: Deer Dance, Chop Suey!, Forest, Toxicity
My Ranking: wakeup
Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell (2015)
Genre: Folk, Indie
Recommended for: People who don’t mind getting sad, as long as the music is pretty
Sufjan Stevens Carrie and Lowell is a heartfelt tribute to his mother, filled with absolutely beautiful songwriting and compositions. God does this man make some beautiful music! So many pretty songs on this one, and I personally love his singing.
Favorite songs: Death with Dignity, Should Have Known Better, Fourth of July
My Ranking: Sad but great
Danny Brown – Quaranta (2023)
Genre: Underground hip-hop
Recommended for: Deep Danny Fans
While I am going to enjoy any album with lines like “Got a mexican homie named Chinese Mike”, after listening to XXX, Quaranta is a bit of a dissapointment for a Danny Brown fan who loves the eclectic deliveries, the high pitch craziness. It still has some of that, but much more lower inflection deliveries, making it fall a bit flat. Also, nothing can top XXX.
Favorite songs: Shakedown
My Ranking: Meh
Al Green – Let’s Stay Together (1972)
Genre: Smooth Soul
Recommended for: Everybody! It’s Al Green
God I fucking love Al Green. Also what an all time album cover. This man can sing. Smooth soul is so good. What more can I say?
A guitar riff in this song is used in a Reggae song that was featured in this blog. If you can find it… mystery prize.
Favorite songs: I’m Still In Love With You, I’m Glad You’re Mine, Love and Happiness, What a Wonderful Thing Love Is, For the Good Times
My Ranking: All timer
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
Genre: Folk
Recommended for: Alternative folk fans, granola people
This one is the firmest not for me, maybe for you. I totally get why people like this. But I am also totally not a folk fan, but I recognize the quality of this music.
Favorite songs: Ragged Wood, Blue Ridge Mountains
My Ranking: folk
Fela Kuti – Zombie (1976)
Genre: Jazz, Percussive, Instrumental
Recommended for: People who love to jam to groovy long songs
Fela is definitely an if you know, you know artist, one of the most legendary African musicians of all time, and also a maker of some insanely groovy long songs. The title track here is fucking incredible, as is the whole album. And when the vocals come in, they always hit!
Favorite songs: All are good
My Ranking: Legendary
Orion Son – A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams (2020)
Genre: Alternative R&B, Indie
Recommended for: lovers of mid Indie
I hate to be reductive here, but this was a very meh album of alternative R&B indie music. Pass!
Favorite songs: Mirage? maybe
My Ranking: boring
Norah Jones – Come Away With Me (2002)
Genre: Smooth Acoustic
Recommended for: people cleaning their house while filming for tiktok
I was once with a certain person in Spain (not you Dragon, but someone we know, if you make it this far in the blog post – don’t blame you if you don’t), who when hearing Erykah Badu said “I love Norah Jones”. Despicable! The intro of this is nice, and Norah has a really nice voice, but I thought this was kind of boring tbh.
Favorite songs: Don’t Know Why
My Ranking: meh
Usher – 8701 (2001)
Genre: 00’s R&B
Recommended for: lovers of early 00s R&B
My least favorite of the two Usher albums in the early 00’s. I went into this hoping I would expand off of the two songs I know and love off of this project, but came out of it where I was before I started – enjoying two songs off of this. However, they are both great and worth checking out.
Favorite songs: U Remind Me, U Don’t Have to Call
My Ranking: meh – but a higher meh than Norah Jones
Kaytranada – Lover/Friend (2023)
Genre: House/R&B
Recommended for: only the most diehard Kaytranada fans
I do love me some Kayatranada but this was a totally mediocre mini project, capping off his 2023 in disappointing fashion after the Amine project, which did have some songs, was totally underwhelming.
Favorite songs: n/a. here’s the other Usher song.
My Ranking: poo
Khraungbin – Hasta El Cielo (2019)
Genre: Jam, Groove
Recommended for: you know what it iz
Yes, more Khraungbin. I work remotely and need some instrumental music sometimes! Obviously it’s good.
Favorite songs: it all good
My Ranking: I ❤ khraungbin
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Paper Mache Dream Balloon (2015)
Genre: Indie
Recommended for: sorry it’s them again
This is the last Gizz album of the year, I promise. Going way back to our Beatles review, I touched on the “playground music” phenomenon, which comes into play here. the intro (linked) is one of my favorite Gizz songs ever, but this is maybe my least favorite project from them.
Favorite songs: Sense
My Ranking: not great
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