LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 111: I've forgotten what convinced me to add this album to the challenge's selection list back in December. Honestly, after listening to it... I shouldn't have bothered.
Finally caught up!
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 110: A gritty and forceful rock album that descended into creative yet frenetic absurdity that left me unsure how Iggy Pop and The Stooges didn't collectively suffer a breakdown during L.A. Blues if it sounded like that...
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Days 106 - 109: A random little collection that ranged from something I actively disliked, to ones that were pretty good. Good to sometimes have uneventful lulls after a bitter aftertaste is left.
Seeing TKO and ESPN decide that WrestleMania has no room for the type of superbly edited promo/hype packages that's needed prior to big matches makes me so damn sad.
Those hype packages made me want to edit video... and it pains me to see suits deem them irrelevant when they serve a vital purpose.
A few days behind, will get to them gradually.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 105: I had no idea that No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom was wall-to-wall bangers with no let-up from start to finish. Not a dud on here. It storms through to best album of the challenge contention.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 104: Nina Simone's emotionally raw, humbling and sobering voice... kept me engrossed and carried itself well even when the music around her was sparse. It also began and ended with two tracks that weren't really in tune with the rest...
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 103: Frankie DIDN'T say relax as their debut is too much of a good thing. It starts with its foot on the gas, and has to begrudgingly feather the throttle to save fuel and reach the finish line on fumes. A good album harmed by unneeded bloat.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 102: Never been a big fan of old school rock n roll, but there was something oddly refreshing hearing Buddy Holly's music. It sounded much more tolerable than many of its peers and those who came after. Fine for what it was.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 101: 43 songs in 74 mins could've been laborious. Thankfully a stylistically eclectic punk band ensured it wasn't. The version on streaming might be technically incomplete, but there's more than enough to enjoy with the musicianship on show.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 100: Entering three digits with a 'released in the last year' new album from a band who made one of my favourites of the decade so far... only to have it sound like a regressive disappointment was not on my Year Of Listening bingo card.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 99: Third R&B adjacent album in as many days. When The Isley Brothers embraced the rockier side of funk... I ascended. Those songs supported an otherwise good but not great collection of funky soul ballads that were breezy to sit through.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 98: I stand by what I said... for what was 'modern' at the time, it's reflective of how dated this style of music has become. It does its job but I can't recommend it, as it doesn't have staying power minus a couple of good songs early on.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 97: Soft and tender R&B that's samey and uninspiring once a starting quintet of great songs ends (minus the gripping closer).
Also, fact of the day: the song from the 'setting spray self-defence' meme on TikTok, is Open Arms, from this album.
Didn't realise today was officially Asexual Day Of Visibility until now... the more you know! Turns out I can be seen after all.
All others on the Ace spectrum like me, you're valid and loved!
This is so true
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 96: An album of such lofty reputation was always going to struggle to live up to its stature when what it exhibited didn't make me BELIEVE it was worthy of it. Some good songs don't prop up a pretentious showcase lacking artistic substance.
Forgot to post yesterday.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 95: 100 gecs cracked open my brain and feasted on the goo inside. Not heard such rivetingly interesting music in awhile... wasn't expecting that at all.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 94: Seven back to back bangers, a phenomenal title track and a few underrated deep cuts can't escape two duds, synthetic production and an enforced perpetual slow tempo which stops this album from reaching perfection.
10/12 ain't bad, right?
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 93: A fun and intriguing listen with diminishing returns as it progresses. Could've been so much more.
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Days 91 - 92: A bountiful start to the month, hopefully a good ode for the days to come.
was just reminded that tomorrow is april fool’s day and especially this year can we just… not, please
LISTENING TO A ‘NEW TO ME’ ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Days 87 - 90: With one notable exception… quite an underwhelming end to the third month of the challenge.
Been feeling sluggish over the last few days, so have been feverishly catching up with the YOL albums before the month turns over. Got two more to listen to (one hold-out and tomorrow's selection) to be up to date.
Will bulk post all the outstanding reviews when I'm done.
Would you watch a TV show created by David Duke, who had loudly announced that any money he made off it was going into the Klan’s coffers?
No, you say? Only someone who was totally okay with racism would do that?
Then don’t watch Harry Potter.
LISTENING TO A 'NEW TO ME' ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 86: Savage Garden nostalgically took me back to the late 90's... I just wish this album had more to give; as the promise some of the songs offered up was notable. Dated, but has enough gems for a listen.
LISTENING TO A 'NEW TO ME' ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 85: Yeah... a second run for Horses won't stop it being sent to the glue factory. Some good songs occasionally don't buoy up a listening experience that I was unmoved by again years after that first listen.
LISTENING TO A 'NEW TO ME' ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 84: It may be iconic, but there's a lot of heart missing from My Bloody Valentine's Loveless that ironically, made it hard to love.
LISTENING TO A 'NEW TO ME' ALBUM, EVERYDAY OF 2026:
Day 83: Who'd have known that a well-celebrated album really is as good as many say it is... albeit with some wobbles here and there.
big purchase should happen on big screen!!!
(also keyboard means I'm less likely to mess up putting in any of the info)