Human Canon Ball

[baystateoftheart]

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Drukqs by Aphex Twin

Released: 2001
RYM Primary Genres: IDM
BEA Rank: #1764 overall & #36 in 2001; RYM Rank: #4343 overall & #88 in 2001
First Listen May 3, 2016

As with all Aphex Twin releases, there's a lot of interesting stuff going on. However, this drags on far too long as a double album. It's essentially a grab-bag of previously unreleased material (aka outtakes), and some tracks don't add anything to the listening experience. That being said, it's still pretty good and worth a try.

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Bitches Brew by Miles Davis

Released: 1970
RYM Primary Genres: Jazz Fusion, Avant-Garde Jazz
BEA Rank: #208 overall & #12 in 1970; RYM Rank: #65 overall & #5 in 1970
Re-Listen May 3, 2016

It's been a long time since I heard this, and I definitely appreciated it more this time around. Like Drukqs, it's quite long, but unlike Drukqs, every inclusion feels purposeful and vital to the album. In terms of technique, artistic vision, and composition, I would call this a masterpiece. For much of it, I get a feeling of appreciation rather than a feeling of adoration, in part due to the repetition present in pieces like the title track, in part due to the length of the album, and in part due to to my own failure to fully connect to music without hooks.

~~~

I updated the RYM version of my 2015 chart today, which involved re-listening to fourteen singles and ranking them. My top 5 non-album singles of the year ended up being:

1. "Picture This" by Kero Kero Bonito
2. "Hi" by Hannah Diamond
3. "Angels" by Chance The Rapper
4. "All Day" by Kanye West
5. "Sunshine On My Back" by The National
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[baystateoftheart]

Listened to the unauthorized Good Fridays mixtape that collects all of those releases from 2010. Since it's not an official release I won't do a regular writeup. But I will say: 1) Power (Remix) [feat. JAY Z & Swizz Beatz] is an absolute jam 2) I wish Big Sean had never gotten big. He ruins most songs with his corniness.

~~~

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From Kinshasa by Mbongwana Star

Released: 2015
RYM Primary Genres: Tradi-Modern
BEA Rank: #8885 overall & #101 in 2015; RYM Rank: #89 in 2015
First Listen May 4, 2016

So many different things are happening over the course of this record, and for the most part they're really engaging. I will have to come back to this one. Knowing nothing about Congolese music, I have little to say now besides "it's pretty great!"

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Here Are The Sonics!!! by The Sonics

Released: 1965
RYM Primary Genres: Garage Rock, Proto-Punk
BEA Rank: #1360 overall & #12 in 1965; RYM Rank: #1011 overall & #19 in 1965
First Listen May 4, 2016

A great garage rock effort bursting with energy, this is a homemade-sounding recording with aggressive guitar, aggressive drums, and passionate screams that go into the red. "Psycho" and "Strychnine", both of which I had previously heard on Nuggets comps, are monumental tracks in 60s garage rock. The original material is clearly their better work, but The Sonics are also no slouch on the R&B covers. Along with The Seeds' debut, this is already one of my favorite proto-punk records.

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Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes

Released: 2015
RYM Primary Genres: Blues Rock
BEA Rank: #5101 overall & #45 in 2015; RYM Rank: #192 in 2015
Re-Listen May 4, 2016

I was hanging out with a friend who really likes them, so we listened to both albums. This one is much more of a straight-up rock record, with good songwriting and amazing vocals from Brittany Howard. While it's excellent, I may have slightly overrated it previously.

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Boys & Girls by Alabama Shakes

Released: 2012
RYM Primary Genres: Blues Rock, Southern Rock
BEA Rank: #1662 overall & #21 in 2012; RYM Rank: #402 in 2012
Re-Listen May 4, 2016

This album is probably my favorite of the two, because it is much more of a Muscle Shoals revival record, and the Muscle Shoals sound is one of my favorite musical movements of all time. There are more standout tracks here as well, and "Hold On" is probably their best song.

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Resurrection by Common

Released: 1994
RYM Primary Genres: Conscious Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Jazz Rap
BEA Rank: #3599 overall & #94 in 1994; RYM Rank: #1208 overall & #32 in 1994
First Listen May 5, 2016

As heretical as it is for a hip-hop head, I've never liked Common very much. I was unimpressed by Like Water For Chocolate, and I was even less impressed by what I've heard of his later work. Because his music is largely about social consciousness, it's important for those themes to be addressed in insightful ways, and to me that aspect has never clicked the way it has with other conscious rappers. I've never found his music to be particularly self-aware, and the way he approaches Afrocentrism feels rather hackneyed compared to his peers. That being said, this is by far the best release I've heard from him, and it's generally enjoyable. His flow and lyricism are on point. There are some standout tracks, such as the well-known "I Used To Love H.E.R.", but overall things blended together a bit, with the jazzy production and his mellow voice washing over me.

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On A Carousel 1963-1974: The Ultimate H...he Hollies

Released: 2006
RYM Primary Genres: Pop Rock
BEA Rank: #15987 overall & #508 in 2006; RYM Rank: #404 in 2006 (among compilations)
First Listen May 5, 2016

The Hollies are one of the better groups of the British invasion, and the starting point for Graham Nash's career. I had only heard "Bus Stop" before listening to this compilation, and I still think it's their best work. Because this collection runs chronologically, it starts with fairly simplistic pop rock about generic love themes. There's also a thoroughly unnecessary version of "If I Needed Someone". The material is best around the middle of the disc, as the band makes a foray into elements of psychedelia and the harmonies are gorgeous. There's good variety; some tracks have steel guitar and other country pop elements, and others have a blue-eyed soul feel. Toward the end, it lapses a bit into glossy schmaltz and soft rock. The Hollies were clearly a skilled pop group that incorporated various influences and followed musical trends throughout their career, even if the songcraft wasn't always perfect.

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Before The World Was Big by Girlpool

Released: 2015
RYM Primary Genres: Lo-Fi Indie, Indie Pop
BEA Rank: #27522 overall & #603 in 2015; RYM Rank: #971 in 2015
First Listen May 5, 2016

This is a tantalizing record, at turns brilliant and at others half-baked. The sound is raw and expressive, the lyrics touch on coming-of-age themes, and the closest comparison I can make is to early Best Coast. The vocals alternate between excellent and purposefully sloppy and off-key. Meanwhile, the lyrics alternate between beautifully abstract and annoyingly trite. While the less-developed side is sometimes charming, on both counts I wish there was less material with the latter attributes on this album. Girlpool have a lot of potential, and my favorite songs here were probably "Ideal World" and "Chinatown". This is a fun listen, and I hope they can take their sound to the next level on their sophomore album.
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[baystateoftheart]

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Young Americans by David Bowie

Released: 1975
RYM Primary Genres: Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop Rock
BEA Rank: #1201 overall & #20 in 1975; RYM Rank: #360 in 1975
First Listen May 6, 2016

Plastic soul is the term most often used to describe this, and it's apt. Bowie drains much of the passion from soul music, and the arrangements sometimes lean on sax to the point of cheesiness, but neither is enough to make the album unpleasant. "Fascination" is a massive jam, and the singles are pretty good too. This album is far from the unheralded masterpiece some have suggested, it does have some filler, and the sound can become thin and brittle at times, but it's still fun.

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Wish by The Cure

Released: 1992
RYM Primary Genres: Alternative Rock
BEA Rank: #933 overall & #17 in 1992; RYM Rank: #4448 overall & #91 in 1992
First Listen May 6, 2016

I enjoyed this more than expected. The poppier sound actually works well, "Friday I'm In Love" is by far the catchiest thing they ever recorded, and the songcraft and instrumentation are very consistent. Consistency is actually the main drawback here. This album is 66 minutes long, but without enough ideas to fill its length, and chopping off around 25 minutes would make it a much better release. Yes, the samey quality drags it down, but I surely enjoyed it more than Three Imaginary Boys or Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me.

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The Life Of Pablo by Kanye West

Released: 2016
RYM Primary Genres: Hip Hop
BEA Rank: #6377 overall & #2 in 2016; RYM Rank: #29 in 2016
Re-Listen May 7, 2016

This is the third or fourth time I've listened to this, but the first time for the version that I hope represents its final mixing and mastering. Taking into account plays of individual tracks, it is by far my most heard album of 2016. But it's not at all my favorite of the year, and I still don't really understand it. There's a lot of catchiness and replay value here, and a lot of great sample selections and concepts. (I had never heard of Arthur Russell before hearing "30 Hours", and now I've been watching videos of his music and adding his albums to my to-listen list.) This time around, I had a moment or two near the beginning/middle thinking: 'holy shit, this might actually be a masterpiece and I didn't realize it until now.' But as it continues, the album's maddening inconsistency and lyrical triteness become incredibly grating. There are a lot of sex raps on TLOP, and sex raps are not inherently bad, but they are just poorly and lazily executed here.

It's not just wildly inconsistent as an album, but also wildly inconsistent within many of its individual tracks. There are so many sublime moments of bliss, and so many cringes. The end result being: I wouldn't even put a single track here in his career top 25. "Ultra Light Beam", now #3 on BEA, is ridiculously overrated and was mainly salvaged by Chance's verse. As an overall album experience, I rank TLOP second-worst in his discography after 808s And Heartbreak (which I don't consider a bad album, for the record). I guess one could argue that by representing good, bad, and ugly forms of music in one package, TLOP accurately fulfills its title by capturing a full range of the human experience. But I don't think the sloppiness is that deep; I see the final product more as an example of what you get when you combine artistic brilliance, excess, and hubris. I'm verging on a Kanye stan, but I'm not going to rationalize this into a masterpiece. It's a scattershot album that manages to be good and at times lovable in spite of itself.

Verdict: 70 out of 100

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Days Are Gone by Haim

Released: 2013
RYM Primary Genres: Pop Rock
BEA Rank: #2207 overall & #34 in 2013; RYM Rank: N/A
First Listen May 8, 2016

Bubbly, buoyant, skillfully crafted pop music is on display in their debut album. It has a nostalgic feel, teetering on the brink of soft pop rock pastiche. The execution is great, but these are airy sweet nothings, with insubstantial lyrics and unmemorable hooks. It's quite pleasant though, and to be fair perhaps more depth will become apparent with further listening.
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[baystateoftheart]

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Every Hero Needs A Villain by Czarface

Released: 2015
RYM Primary Genres: East Coast Hip Hop, Boom Bap
BEA Rank: #15834 overall & #245 in 2015; RYM Rank: #101 in 2015
First Listen May 9, 2016

The energy and consistency of this album is off the chain. At first blush one of the best pump-up albums I've heard. 7L's production is hard-hitting, with enough variation to remain interesting and no wack beats. The guest lineup is star-studded and mostly comes through. And the MC skills on display here are mind-boggling. Both Inspectah Deck and Esoteric show great charisma and lyricism, with good wordplay and dense allusions built around a loose concept about comic book characters. If there's a weakness here, it's the lack of storyline development. I enjoyed the first album, but Every Hero Needs A Villain is an even more excellent and unrelenting old school hip-hop performance. This is one of the outstanding rap albums I've heard from 2015, and I checked it out a lot sooner than I might have thanks to Patman!

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Don Juan's Reckless Daughter by Joni Mitchell

Released: 1977
RYM Primary Genres: Singer/Songwriter, Folk Pop
BEA Rank: #4696 overall & #83 in 1977; RYM Rank: #200 in 1977
First Listen May 10, 2016

Many consider this to be the last album of Joni Mitchell's peak creative period, and it's the only one from that era that I had not heard before. It's definitely problematic, as Mitchell appears in blackface on the cover and proceeds to take liberally from traditions of African-American jazz and Afro-Latino drumming, in addition to penning a few ...interesting lyrics. Other than that, there's some great musicianship and some excellent songwriting on here, my favorite example being "Off Night Backstreet". Jaco Pastorious is on the bass throughout, and his contributions are highlights. However, I felt the album was marred by long, atmospheric stretches without lyrics in which not enough develops instrumentally; these could have been pared down. The aforementioned passages occurred in "Overture - Cotton Avenue", "The Tenth World", and especially "Paprika Plains". But with regard to my criticisms, I get the feeling that perhaps I didn't properly understand everything here, and should try again. All in all, I enjoyed it and I thank dbz for the rec!

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Just Be Free by Big Freedia

Released: 2014
RYM Primary Genres: Bounce
BEA Rank: #47170 overall & #1869 in 2014; RYM Rank: N/A
First Listen May 10, 2016

This is my first time listening to a bounce album, and it's a wonderfully head-nodding and queer piece of art. I knew it was dance-oriented, but even given that I did expect a little more lyricism and a little less repetition. That said, the beats are out of this world and this record is worth a try. Big Freedia is a commanding presence on the mic, this is chock full of NOLA flavor, and I'm surprised that it only has one rating on BEA.
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[baystateoftheart]

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Gran Turismo by The Cardigans

Released: 1998
RYM Primary Genres: Indie Pop, Pop Rock
BEA Rank: #2158 overall & #55 in 1998; RYM Rank: #510 in 1998
First Listen May 11, 2016

The Cardigans take a different direction on their fourth album, aiming for more mainstream appeal and discarding twee elements. The songwriting is fairly strong, the riffs have more bite, and Nina Persson's vocals are quite good. The bass is a lot heavier than their prior albums, and on several tracks I even hear a trip hop influence. Personally I prefer their earlier work, but this also has something to offer.

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The Tipping Point by The Roots

Released: 2004
RYM Primary Genres: East Coast Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop
BEA Rank: #17234 overall & #435 in 2004; RYM Rank: #538 in 2004
First Listen May 11, 2016

The Roots bring it as usual, with warm beats and great flows from Black Thought and friends. This is by no means their worst album, but somehow it feels like a generic Roots album. There are few standout tracks, they touch on typical lyrical themes, and there's a rather monotonous hidden track outro. Black Thought is one of the GOAT emcees, which makes a generic Roots album significantly better than most albums, but it's hard to avoid being a bit disappointed with the final product here.
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[baystateoftheart]

First off, I now have an updated 2014 chart to go with my 2015 chart, which can be seen here: Top 72 Music Albums of 2014 by baystateoftheart. Four albums make their first BEA chart appearances.

~~~

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Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) by The Beach Boys

Released: 1965
RYM Primary Genres: Sunshine Pop, Pop Rock
BEA Rank: #3888 overall & #28 in 1965; RYM Rank: #132 in 1965
Re-Listen May 11, 2016

After the major step forward of Today!, this record found The Beach Boys regressing into old bad habits. I threw it on to the end of my 1965 chart, so I figured I should listen again to evaluate it. It's far from a cohesive piece of music, so I've done a rare track-by-track breakdown.

1. The Girl From New York City - Pretty Bad
2. Amusement Parks U.S.A. - Simply Awful
3. Then I Kissed Her - Pretty Good
4. Salt Lake City - Simply Awful
5. Girl Don't Tell Me - Mediocre
6. Help Me, Rhonda - Excellent
7. California Girls - Good
8. Let Him Run Wild - Close To Excellent
9. You're So Good To Me - Pretty Good
10. Summer Means New Love - Close To Excellent
11. I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man - Pretty Bad
12. And Your Dreams Come True - Excellent

"Then I Kissed Her" is decent because it's a cover of "Then He Kissed Me" by The Crystals from a different perspective, and stays pretty close to the great original. Early albums by The Beach Boys are often distinguished by the ubiquitous presence of offensively bad filler right next to great tunes. It's a bad sign when you need to rely on such awful music to push the record to just 27 minutes in total length. The first half of the album is especially weighed down by two songs, which were first released as a single: "Salt Lake City / Amusement Parks U.S.A." This single is the ultimate example of selling out, as the physical copy reads "Courtesy of Downtown Salt Lake City Stores". That's right, a local business association paid the band to make this to promote tourism. Unsurprisingly, the lyrics are laughable and have no relation to reality. The flip side is evocative of and somehow manages to be twice as bad as "County Fair" from their debut, no mean feat. After a rough start, the album improves, although this is marred by the ridiculous "I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man". "Help Me, Rhonda" is the best offering here, and it's important to note that this is the well-known single version, as opposed to the early version present on Today!

Verdict: 55 out of 100, which indicates a good album with significant flaws, and is the bare minimum for an album to stay in my collection.

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Challengers by The New Pornographers

Released: 2007
RYM Primary Genres: Indie Pop, Power Pop
BEA Rank: #3987 overall & #103 in 2007; RYM Rank: #831 in 2007
Re-Listen May 11, 2016

I remembered holding this album in high regard based on my first listen, so I decided to try it again. The result was pretty disappointing. The hooks aren't very memorable and the songs melt into each other, especially at the outset. It often seems like the compositions have intentional idiosyncrasies that hold the songs back from full development and maximum pop impact, although perhaps they add to the 'indie' factor. Apart from Neko Case's contributions, the vocals aren't particularly good, and the album starts off more low-energy than Jeb Bush. As it continues, I begin to enjoy things more. I'm not sure whether that's due to an improvement in the music or a process of getting acclimated to the style. "Unguided" is probably my favorite, although almost the whole back half clicks in general. After listening, I saw that my friends on RYM rated this as The New Pornographers' worst album, and I was not surprised. To my ears, it's more boring and less successful than the others.

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Funeral by Arcade Fire

Released: 2004
RYM Primary Genres: Indie Rock, Chamber Pop
BEA Rank: #10 overall & #1 in 2004; RYM Rank: #30 overall & #1 in 2004
Re-Listen May 12, 2016

It had been so long since I had heard this album, so I decided to give it another go. The lyrics are great at times, although I also laughed out loud a couple times at their self-important ridiculousness. The strings are used especially well, and the best songs are appealingly propulsive. While the album doesn't get off to a roaring start, it definitely picks up toward the middle. Overall, it's pretty great and I can definitely understand its high ranking. However, for me it's not a clear standout in their discography. I would rank their first three LPs as essentially interchangeable in quality, and Neon Bible continues to be my slight favorite.
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[baystateoftheart]

I've listened to a bunch of albums since I last updated this, and I don't have a ton of time and energy (and probably won't for the foreseeable future), so I'm going to keep the write-ups brief.

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Ship Ahoy by The O'Jays

Released: 1973
RYM Primary Genres: Philly Soul, Soul
BEA Rank: #10719 overall & #177 in 1973; RYM Rank: #4524 overall & #143 in 1973
First Listen May 13, 2016

Excellent work in general, on par with Back Stabbers. Could do with fewer suite-style songs.

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Station To Station by David Bowie

Released: 1976
RYM Primary Genres: Art Rock
BEA Rank: #206 overall & #4 in 1976; RYM Rank: #104 overall & #1 in 1976
Re-Listen May 13, 2016

Amazing album, and I liked it even more this time than last. It might pass Hunky Dory as my second-favorite Bowie album.

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Moth by Chairlift

Released: 2016
RYM Primary Genres: Synthpop
BEA Rank: #33239 overall & #123 in 2016; RYM Rank: #226 in 2016
First Listen May 13, 2016

Buoyant poppy album with some entertaining quirks and a few very good songs. I agree with most that "Crying In Public" is the standout.

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Luxury Problems by Andy Stott

Released: 2012
RYM Primary Genres: Dub Techno
BEA Rank: #2547 overall & #39 in 2012; RYM Rank: #6456 overall & #27 in 2012
First Listen May 14, 2016

This is definitely very good, but I doubt I'll listen again soon. Drained of color, much like the cover suggests.

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Power, Corruption And Lies by New Order

Released: 1983
RYM Primary Genres: Synthpop, Post-Punk, New Wave
BEA Rank: #298 overall & #4 in 1983; RYM Rank: #787 overall & #9 in 1983
Re-Listen May 14, 2016

Great album, clearly their best work from my point of view. A few minutes shaved off here and there could make this an utter masterpiece.

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Art Angels by Grimes

Released: 2015
RYM Primary Genres: Electropop, Synthpop
BEA Rank: #880 overall & #5 in 2015; RYM Rank: #78 in 2015
Re-Listen May 14, 2016

So so good, and another album that could be a masterpiece with a few minutes cut and some sequencing changes. Has three of the best, most epic jams of the century: "Flesh Without Blood", "Kill V. Maim", "Realiti (Demo)" [that version only available on physical copies].

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Not To Disappear by Daughter

Released: 2016
RYM Primary Genres: Dream Pop, Art Pop
BEA Rank: #28126 overall & #81 in 2016; RYM Rank: #160 in 2016
First Listen May 15, 2016

Dream pop can walk a very fine line between the sublime and the boring. It's generally enjoyable, but too often falls on the wrong side of that line.

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Explores Your Mind by Al Green

Released: 1974
RYM Primary Genres: Smooth Soul, Soul, Southern Soul
BEA Rank: #5785 overall & #102 in 1974; RYM Rank: #6425 overall & #159 in 1974
First Listen May 15, 2016

Not his best, as too many of the edges that make his voice and music compelling have been rounded off for the smooth soul sound. But still very good, with some great tunes like "Take Me To The River".

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Double Cup by DJ Rashad

Released: 2013
RYM Primary Genres: Footwork
BEA Rank: #7637 overall & #173 in 2013; RYM Rank: #205 in 2013
First Listen May 15, 2016

Awesome and fun footwork from its king, although there is some filler. I prefer the more focused and concise Rollin' EP.
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[baystateoftheart]

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World Psychedelic Classics 5: Who Is Wi...m Onyeabor

Released: 2013 (material originally released 1977-1983)
RYM Primary Genres: Afro-Funk, Afrobeat, Funk
BEA Rank: #5007 overall & #101 in 2013; RYM Rank: #1767 overall & #10 in 2013 (among compilations)
First Listen May 16, 2016

The grooves on this compilation are great. Not every song is up to the same standard, but the ones that hit really hit. Underrated artist.

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Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance by Bel... Sebastian

Released: 2015
RYM Primary Genres: Indie Pop
BEA Rank: #6140 overall & #64 in 2015; RYM Rank: N/A
First Listen May 17, 2016

This is my first time listening to a Belle And Sebastian album I'm going to get to their whole discography eventually, but I heard this one first as part of developing my Top 65 Music Albums of 2015 by baystateoftheart chart. I actually think the glossy electropop sound can work very well for them. Tracks like "The Party Line" are excellent. The problem is boring filler and thin songwriting that litters the record. At least 20 minutes should have been cut, and some good songs are ruined by shiny, soulless repetition.

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Untitled Unmastered. by Kendrick Lamar

Released: 2016
RYM Primary Genres: Jazz Rap, Conscious Hip Hop, West Coast Hip Hop
BEA Rank: #5497 overall & #3 in 2016; RYM Rank: #3995 overall & #6 in 2016
First Listen May 17, 2016

I was very disappointed by this record the first time around. They're mostly outtakes for a reason. Few tracks have compelling storytelling or interesting messages. It's solid, but it's significantly worse than his first three and doesn't add much to his legacy. Who knows - it may grow on me with time.

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My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts by Brian ...avid Byrne

Released: 1981
RYM Primary Genres: Experimental Rock, Art Rock
BEA Rank: #678 overall & #4 in 1981; RYM Rank: #1532 overall & #18 in 1981
First Listen May 19, 2016

This is cultural tourism, to say the very least. However, they often make the most of the concept. It's an enjoyable album even if it didn't knock my socks off.

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True Romance by Charli XCX

Released: 2013
RYM Primary Genres: Electropop, Synthpop
BEA Rank: #3623 overall & #64 in 2013; RYM Rank: N/A
First Listen May 19, 2016

After the first few tracks I thought this was amazing, but that feeling dissipated as the album continued. The beats and lyrics are good, but the vocals and hooks only reach their level some of the time, and it all starts to feel repetitive. Nice album, but I definitely prefer Sucker.
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[baystateoftheart]

This is where the canon journey referenced in the title begins in earnest. What I've done is make a custom chart on RYM, with the top ranked non-metal albums. I've sampled everything in the top 250, picked out the ones that sound good and that I've never heard, and made it a mission to hear each of these. This won't happen in order, because the CDs will arrive from the library at different times and because I'll be listening to other albums in between. Before I start, here's the full list I'm working with:

8. Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
20. Pink Moon by Nick Drake
27. The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus
35. Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
51. Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
52. In A Silent Way by Miles Davis
64. Fun House by The Stooges
75. Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake
89. Souvlaki by Slowdive
94. Homogenic by Björk
95. Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus
101. Hounds Of Love by Kate Bush
102. If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle And Sebastian
103. Mezzanine by Massive Attack
117. Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
118. My Favorite Things by John Coltrane
124. Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits
125. The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses
126. Turn On The Bright Lights by Interpol
140. The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips
148. Entertainment by Gang Of Four
149. Out To Lunch by Eric Dolphy
150. Bryer Layter by Nick Drake
152. Purple Rain by Prince And The Revolution
153. Music For 18 Musicians by Steve Reich
159. Karma by Pharoah Sanders
175. Blues And Roots by Charles Mingus
178. The Clash by The Clash
180. The Shape Of Jazz To Come by Ornette Coleman
187. Tonight's The Night by Neil Young
194. Maggot Brain by Funkadelic
201. Electric Warrior by T. Rex
206. Third by Portishead
208. Ys by Joanna Newsom
209. A Tribute To Jack Johnson by Miles Davis
212. Histoire De Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
213. Treasure by Cocteau Twins
217. Journey In Satchidananda by Alice Coltrane
218. Clube De Esquina by Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges
224. Vespertine by Björk
225. Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins
226. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips
229. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
230. I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One by Yo La Tengo
232. Different Class by Pulp
233. Somethin' Else by Cannonball Adderley
239. Pinkerton by Weezer
244. Psychocandy by The Jesus And Mary Chain
246. Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins
247. Double Nickels On The Dime by Minutemen
248. Sign 'O' The Times by Prince
250. Zen Arcade by Hüsker Dü
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[baystateoftheart]

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Slime Season 3 by Young Thug

Released: 2016
RYM Primary Genres: Trap Rap, Southern Hip Hop
BEA Rank: #36838 overall & #175 in 2016; RYM Rank: #182 in 2016
First Listen May 19, 2016

Young Thug's best and most consistent release to date. Stacked with bangers and a perfect length of 28 minutes. Recommended to fans of trap rap / party rap.

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King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The ...by Pusha T

Released: 2015
RYM Primary Genres: Gangsta Rap, Southern Hip Hop
BEA Rank: #11587 overall & #166 in 2015; RYM Rank: #185 in 2015
First Listen May 20, 2016

I was a bit underwhelmed by this album. I'm glad it's the prelude and not the main release. There's something a bit off with the beats on several tracks, the features are lackluster (except Beanie has a good verse), and his flow and lyrics aren't nearly as good as on My Name Is My Name. After all these years, maybe there aren't many fresh new ways left to rap about slinging dope...

Back To Basics by Billy Bragg

Released: 1987 (material originally released 1983-1985)
RYM Primary Genres: Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter
BEA Rank: #4492 overall & #69 in 1987; RYM Rank: #1151 overall & #19 in 1987 (among compilations)
First Listen May 20, 2016

This collects his first two albums and an EP on one disc, with some changes in sequencing. The compilation includes: 1) Life's A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy (1983) 2) Brewing Up With Billy Bragg (1984) 3) Between The Wars EP (1985). His debut has the best songwriting and is by far my favorite solo work by Bragg. The rest is a step down in quality, and (unrelated) features much heavier guitar.

~~ Canon Journey Album ~~

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The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady by Charles Mingus

Released: 1963
RYM Primary Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Third Stream
BEA Rank: #153 overall & #2 in 1963; RYM Rank: #28 overall & #1 in 1963
First Listen May 21, 2016

Phenomenal work, which I can see joining my 60s chart with time. One of the best jazz albums I've heard. I prefer the tracks to the modes.

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Coloring Book by Chance The Rapper

Released: 2016
RYM Primary Genres: Pop Rap, Conscious Hip Hop
BEA Rank: #14758 overall & #15 in 2016; RYM Rank: #115 in 2016
First Listen May 21, 2016