This band is basically a continuation of the Minutemen, but evolved into a more indie alternative direction. I love the Minutemen, and I don’t have anything against this album in particular, but overall, it just felt kind of weak. Nothing really sticks out, and looking back on it now, the whole album is kind of a blur. Once again, I have no idea how this ended up on an all time top albums list. Honestly, 99.7% of the population could skip this album and wouldn’t be missing a thing.

So I’ll start by saying that this is a good album, but not as strong as their debut or their third. It lacks the emotional depth and cohesion those albums had, and instead feels more fragmented and inconsistent.

That said, there’s an important backstory behind this record. In 1995, the band suddenly broke up, due to internal tensions, including frontman Jeremy Enigk’s conversion to Christianity, which shifted the group’s dynamic. Before disbanding, they had left behind ... read more

This was a fun post-hardcore demo tape, with the kind of production you’d expect from a DIY release in the late 80s punk underground scene. A very lo-fi and unpolished. I can definitely see how this helped bridge the gap between classic hardcore and early emocore or post hardcore. It’s definitely on the more aggressive side, but overall a really enjoyable demo.

This album is IQ returning to form. It balances the band’s classic neo prog identity with a more modern sound, and they came back with a new drummer and keyboardist after a five-year hiatus since their previous album.

For anyone new to modern prog rock, IQ is definitely a band to check out, and I’d recommend this 2009 album as a good entry point, then move forward through their newer releases. After that, if you’re curious about what they sounded like before, then I’d ... read more

If Pink Floyd ever decided to make house music, this would be it. Other than that, there’s not much to say. It’s a short EP, clocking in at around 15 minutes, so it’s a quick in and out listen.

It’s not bad country by any means, but it honestly just sounds like something you’d hear on any random country station in the late ’80s. There’s nothing particularly unique or memorable that sets it apart, and it doesn’t really offer anything that sticks with you after it’s over.

This was a cool album to check out, especially knowing it features Alex Lifeson from Rush. It’s a complete departure from the Rush sound, leaning more into an electronic-driven alternative style with touches of dream pop and industrial. Overall, it’s a solid listen from start to finish, with a few standout tracks. I’m not sure if it’s something I’ll return to often, but I definitely enjoyed it for what it is.

Here’s another great album I’ve fallen in love with from Sunny Day Real Estate. It’s a perfect example of how easy it is to overlook incredible music when you’re stuck in your own little world. I’ve known about this band forever, but never really paid attention to them when I was younger.

Back in the late ’90s, discovering music wasn’t as easy as it is now, since streaming didn’t exist, and finding albums like this took effort. Now, understanding ... read more

I stumbled across this EP on a playlist, and for the most part, it’s pretty solid as a modern alternative and grunge revival release. Some parts are melodic, while other moments lean into a noisier, rougher sound. Overall, there’s nothing too mind-blowing about it, but it’s a respectable and enjoyable listen for what it is.

This is one of the Police albums I’d say I enjoy more than their earlier ones. It leans more into a synth driven sound and definitely shows a slightly more experimental side. That added texture and atmosphere makes it a more interesting listen compared to their rawer, more stripped down beginnings.

I’ll probably never be a George Michael fan, and this album is a good example of why. It’s not bad music by any means, and there were even a few elements I genuinely enjoyed, but overall, his style comes off as one of the most cliché examples of ’80s sophisti-pop.

This was a great album to start my day with. The trio consisted of pianist Bill Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian, who were all top tier jazz musicians. I was surprised to learn that just 10 days after this recording, Scott LaFaro tragically died in a car accident at the age of 25. It’s a totally shame considering how much his playing stood out to me. While I enjoyed all three elements of the trio, the bass work was easily my favorite.

This is definitely a classic Foo Fighters album, and I’d say it’s the one that really helped them step out of Nirvana’s shadow. It proved they could stand on their own and weren’t just riding on the coattails of Nirvana’s success.

That said, I’m so burned out on most of these tracks that it didn’t really have much of an impact revisiting it. The songs are solid, but after hearing them so many times over the years, the freshness is long gone.

This is Ultravox’s debut album, from before they became the synthpop band most people recognize today. This was during the John Foxx fronted era, and it’s a well-balanced fusion of art rock, glam rock, and punk. As you listen, you can clearly hear a number of elements that would go on to shape the emerging post punk and new wave scenes.

They were heavily influenced by artists like David Bowie and Roxy Music, and it’s no coincidence, since Brian Eno produced the album. If ... read more

This is definitely a standout album from the 90s alternative and grunge scene, and it still holds up as an enjoyable album. That said, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it the best, as many often do.

There’s been a lot of speculation that Kurt Cobain was a ghostwriter on this record. However, both Courtney Love and guitarist Eric Erlandson have stated that they were the sole writers of the music and that Cobain didn’t contribute to the songwriting. I believe that’s likely ... read more

This is definitely the kind of album you can put on repeat and just doze off or take a nap to. It’s soothing and atmospheric, which makes it work really well in the background. I wouldn’t say it’s one of the strongest dream pop albums I’ve heard, but that kind of reflects how I feel about Beach House in general. They make good music, just nothing that ever really blows me away.

This album definitely feels like the bridge between Ween’s early chaotic lo-fi records and the more polished, cohesive sound of Chocolate and Cheese. Compared to their first two albums, this one is slightly more focused, almost like they had a clearer vision of what they wanted the finished product to be by the time it was done.

It’s definitely a classic in its own weird way, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a starting point for someone new to Ween. It’s more rewarding ... read more

It’s been nearly 30 years since I last listened to this album. It was really popular when I was a freshman, and at the time, I remember thinking the whole thing was slightly above average, with a handful of standout tracks. Now, almost three decades later, I’d say my opinion hasn’t changed much. The biggest drawback is that some of these songs have been so overplayed over the years that I just don’t feel the need to ever hear them again. They’ve lost their impact ... read more

I’m new to Failure, so I figured I’d just start from the very beginning. From what I’ve seen, this isn’t their most popular album, but as a fan of Steve Albini, I was immediately drawn in by his trademark production style. That dry, raw, and live room sound is all over this record, and it gave me something familiar to latch onto.

This definitely falls on the more unpolished and rough edged side of early 90s alternative, but that’s also part of its charm. If this ... read more

I loved this album. It’s not exactly like their first, but it feels like a natural progression from where they were in the late 90s to where they are now, moving into the 2020s.

American Football has always prioritized atmosphere, often using the space and silence between notes as a form of expression, and on this album, they bring that atmospheric quality to the forefront. The band leans heavily into ambient and dream pop territory, creating a hazy, melancholic sound that completely ... read more