Apr 9, 2025

154. Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989) [April 9th, 2025]

What can be said about this record that hasn't been said by millions before. Some of the most innovative and incredible sampling on any record EVER. Seriously the sampling list on this record is f---ing insane. I wish that the Dust Brothers had more stuff to get into aside from the Fight Club soundtrack.

The sampling is what takes the spotlight for a lot of people, but I think that the evolution of the Beastie Boys themselves is especially fascinating. On Licensed To Ill, the Beasties were fun juveniles that were just around to have a good time. To say that they're "mature" on Paul's Boutique would be inaccurate, as they still have the same sense of humor from their debut. But stylistically, they're on a much higher level. I have to give special props to MCA on "A Year And A Day", he f---ing kills that Isley Brothers sample.

 

Apr 10, 2025

155. Various Artists - Lost in Translation (Soundtrack) (2003) [April 10th, 2025]

This was very mixed for me. Some great Kevin Shields and mbv tracks, and I really liked "Too Young" by Phoenix. Overall, it's a good time, but not something I'd revisit too often

 

Apr 10, 2025

156. Frank Zappa - Hot Rats (1969) [April 10th, 2025]

Today was a slower day than usual. I'm not that much of a Zappa guy, (considering that he has like over 100 albums), but Hot Rats has always been a great record for me. Largely instrumental besides the Captain Beefheart assisted "Willie the p----", Hot Rats is f---ing nuts. Some of the craziest and most enjoyable guitar riffs ever are on this record. "The Gumbo Variations" blew my f---ing mind the first time I've heard it. f---ing rad record

 

Apr 11, 2025

157. UGK - Super Tight... (1994) [April 11th, 2025]

It's a pretty fun time. I do prefer Ridin Dirty's production a bit more though.

 

Apr 11, 2025

158. A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory (1991) [April 11th, 2025]

Pretty good record, although I've established before that I'm not the biggest Tribe guy. Busta kills it on "Scenario" tho

 

Apr 11, 2025

159. Kendrick Lamar - GNX (2024) [April 11th, 2025]

This was my self-declared AOTY last year. Does it still hold that title?

Yeah....but I'm not AS in love with it as I was when it dropped. For the record, I still really enjoy this record, it's just that after the initial hype has worn down, I've been able to evaluate it more. I think the run from "Wacced Out Murals" to "TV Off" is legitimately great, except for "Luther". "Luther" isn't a bad song, but I'm usually not a big fan of this side of Kendrick. In these first 7 tracks you have bangers like "Squabble Up" and "TV Off", and a track like "Reincarnated" which has quickly become one of my favorite Kendrick songs ever.

After that though, I think the album hits a bit of a slump. "Peekaboo" and "Heart Pt. 6" are great, but I don't think its an unpopular opinion to say that "Dodger Blue" and "GNX" are on the weaker side. Overall though, I still think that the album holds up pretty well. I'd rank it under TPAB and GKMC, about the same as MMATBS and d---. and above Section.80.

Also, WHERE THE h--- IS THE TRAILER SONG

 

Apr 11, 2025

160. Sonic Youth - EVOL (1986) [April 11th, 2025]

Wasn't a big fan of this one sadly . "Bubblegum" was pretty cool tho.

 

Apr 11, 2025

Gonna be checking out one of the suggested albums tomorrow or sunday hopefully

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 11:39 AM

161. Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004) [April 12th, 2025]

What can I say about Madvillainy that hasn't been said before? Great lyrics, production etc. I guess I could give a shout out to some tracks that aren't as brought up as others. "Supervillain Theme" has some of my favorite Madlib production ever, "Shadows of Tomorrow" is underrated. A few years ago, this album was my first entrypoint into experimental/"underground" Hip-Hop (this was prior to DOOM's death) so I'll always have some appreciation for it. I am more of a Vaudeville Villain guy though.

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM

I'd jump off a cliff before having to listen to the d-ck Dasterdly EP lmao

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 1:01 PM

162. The Smiths - Hatful of Hollow (1984) [April 12th, 2025]

Despite my love for The Smiths, I'm quite surprised that I haven't chosen any of their albums or songs for AOTW Club. While I think that The Queen Is Dead is their best album, I do believe that Hatful of Hollow would be tied with it if it was a proper record rather than a compilation. This comp takes the strongest tracks from their first 2 LP's and adds in a bunch of great B Sides. Increidble time, and I'd honestly say that it's the best intro to the Smiths for people who want to get into them.

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM

163. Can - Future Days (1973) [April 12th, 2025]

I enjoyed this a lot more than I did a few years ago. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I've been appreciating Ambient work more over time, so the large instrumental parts of this record started becoming much more appealing. I gotta shout out Jaki Liebezeit's drumming, cause its f---ing stellar. I do have a little trouble getting into Damo's vocals though. They sound great, but I have to admit that I don't really understand what he's singing about most of the time. Still, very good record and I'm glad that I revisited it.

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM

The next record is one of the biggest records of the past year, and a long awaited album from possibly THE biggest rapper ever @Minato

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM

164. PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake - $ome $exy $ongs 4 U (2025) [April 12th, 2025]

*sigh*
Despite my Kendrick glazing over the past year, I am far from a Drake hater. I am not a superfan either, but for the most part I don't hate a lot of Drake songs. Late last year and earlier this year I relistened to the majority of Drake's discography, with the exceptions of Comeback Season and Care Package. (Quick Sidenote: I did the same with Eminem, so that's why there hasn't been an Em album here yet. TES coming soon!!!) I found that I [mostly] enjoyed Drake's work from 2009-2015. At least for me, the problem with Drake's albums post-Views has to be their length. Aside from DLDT, Her Loss, and HN, every Drake album since 2016 has had 20+ tracks. If these albums were cut to like, 1-16 tracks, I'd say that Drake's discography could go from good to above average.

Aside from THP6, I thought that Drake did decently well during the beef with Kendrick, and I was honestly excited to see how he's bounce back from a battle that he clearly lost. I wasn't a big fan of the 100 GIGS tracks, so I was cautiously optimistic. I also just don't care about PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Spoiler Alert: He literally made no impression for me on this record.

With that out of the way, time to actually speak about the record. $$$4U is not a bad album. BUT...it is a very boring one. The majority of this album is very boring and meandering, and the fact that this 74 minutes is a joke. Like I mentioned earlier, PND did nothing for me. I honestly think that I'd enjoy this album more if he was edited out of it. Except for truly atrocious albums like Revival and VULTURES 2, I'd say that a boring album is worse than a bad album. It got to the point that I enjoyed "MEET YOUR PADRE" more than like 85% of the songs here because at least it gives me something to talk about. Very Peso Pluma-esque, but d--- Drake's spanish is awful.

Now, this album does have a few high points. "SMALL TOWN FAME", and "GIMME A HUG" are pretty good. And honestly, "NOKIA" and "DIE TRYING" might be some of my favorite Drake tracks in years. But still, that's 4/21 tracks, which means that at least for me, only 19% of the songs here are memorable. I'll probably revisit these 4 tracks in the future, but i have no desire to ever have to listen to this album as a whole again. I just hope Drake's next album is better cause d---.

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 8:50 PM

One of the suggested albums coming up next!

 

Apr 12, 2025 at 9:44 PM

165. Jack White - No Name (2024) [April 12th, 2025]

This one was suggested by @Pazuzu . I'm familiar with a couple of White Stripes records, but I had little experience with Jack's solo work aside from his guest appearances on a few albums. Even though I wasn't really knowledgeable on Jack's solo work, I was really excited to hop into this record, because aside from David Bowie's Blackstar, I haven't really checked out that many rock records made after the 2000's (not sure if BCNR and Geordie Greep count).

I'm glad to say that I LOVED this record. Jack's well known for his guitarwork, and this entire album is filled with incredible riffs and the energy is stellar all throughout. I do have to say that while I enjoyed the entire record, the "Heaven and h---" side was my favorite out of the two. The first side has some of my favorite tracks on the album like "Bless Yourself", "Archbishop Harold Homes" and ESPECIALLY "That's How I'm Feeling" that track rules.

Overall, I really enjoyed this record. I'm glad that it got suggested, because it probably would've taken me a long time to check it out. Big thank to Pazuzu for the sugestion