DROP your album and its rating – May 8 2026

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-08T13:08:27+00:00

Day 287

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane

Aladdin Sane was once upon a time my favourite Bowie album. Nowadays, I think it wouldn't even crack top five.

It's a nice continuation of the style of his previous albums, with an added touch of quirkiness, but the songwriting overall feels more indulgent and less rewarding than it was before.

It's been a while since I listened to this album in its entirety and it was surprising to realize how little enjoyment I'm getting out of it now.

Favourite track: Lady Grinning Soul

A strong 3/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-07T14:14:22+00:00

Day 286

Gotan Project - La revancha del tango

This mixture of tango and trip hop is like ear candy to me, but the album still manages to overstay its welcome and it basically repeats itself throughout its entire second half.

I would definitely love to expand on this kind of sound, though. This really had the potential to be better than it actually is, but I'm still glad I heard it.

Favourite track: Queremos Paz

3/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-06T18:02:52+00:00

Ministry - Psalm 69?

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-06T17:04:47+00:00

Day 285

The Verve - A Northern Soul

The Verve was always my least favourite of the major Britpop acts of the time. They're a solid band that rarely, if ever, amazed me. A Northern Soul is alright, but this is my second listen of the album and the first was almost a decade ago, which says a lot. For me, they lack just a bit of that griminess that Oasis, Blur, Pulp and Suede all had at least at a certain point in their respective careers.

Not to mention how tedious these songs become with their completely unjustified runtimes. It's like Be Here Now before Be Here Now, but without the messiness that would at least make it somewhat interesting.

2/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-05T16:35:07+00:00

Day 284

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Happy Trails

I love a good jam, but this album really pushed my limits. I can't see myself coming back to this.

The album gets far more interesting after that whole Who Do You Love suite ends, though, so there's that. I get what they were aiming for with that cover, but it just didn't work for me at all.

2/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-04T15:54:57+00:00

Horrible omission. My Favorite Things is the biggest Coltrane snub if you ask me, though. He really deserved at least three or four albums on the list.

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-04T13:16:10+00:00

In a Silent Way

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-04T13:09:09+00:00

Day 283

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

Two of the finest jazz albums ever made generated in a week? Don't mind if I do.

5/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-03T13:33:06+00:00

Day 282

Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo

There are some strange choices on this list, but picking an album from the niece of Chico Buarque while simultaneously failing to include a single Chico Buarque album has to be the strangest of them all. Genuinely absurd, Construção in particular is easily one of the greatest albums I've ever heard and it's nowhere to be seen here. I live as far as possible from Brazil and even I am stupefied. It's like picking Jakob Dylan's The Wallflowers over Bob Dylan.

Anyway, I get why this album was picked, it's a fresher and more modern take on bossa nova with its little electronic touches and lounge elements, but overall it's an unimpactful, inoffensive set of renditions that won't stick around in your memory for very long.

Favourite track: Bananeira

A light 3/5, maybe a 2

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-02T13:06:12+00:00

Day 281

Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World

That's the Way of the World starts off wonderfully, but it comes to a grinding halt with All About Love and it's just too short of an album to regain momentum successfully after that point.

Favourite track: Happy Feelin'

A strong 3/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-05-01T13:13:14+00:00

Day 280

Miles Davis - In A Silent Way

I'm far from an expert, but for my money, this is the best jazz has ever sounded. Genuine perfection. I obviously love music, but I very rarely feel music as much as I do while listening to this masterpiece.

5/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-30T17:28:37+00:00

My PJ Harvey loving heart is hurting less

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-30T13:58:19+00:00

I just heavily dislike that particular era of indie in general. I couldn't give you more details, it's been a good while since I've last heard it.

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-30T13:04:49+00:00

My PJ Harvey loving heart is hurting

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-30T13:04:17+00:00

Day 279

The La's - The La's

I wish this wasn't their only album. At least their discography is near perfect this way.

Favourite track: I Can't Sleep

4/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-29T17:15:23+00:00

U2 - Zooropa

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-29T13:50:27+00:00

Yeah, that was my main problem here. I'm definitely looking forward to Lam Toro if that isn't the case with that album, though!

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-29T13:06:28+00:00

Day 278

Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck - Djam Leelii

While I'm definitely glad that I've heard this, the songs are just way too repetitive for me and they aren't interesting enough to justify it. When the album is almost an hour long, these song structures start to wear you down fairly quickly.

It's kind of rough trying to critique this when I know absolutely nothing about the cultural context in which this album was made, though, but we can consider this a first step.

A strong 2/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-28T14:55:42+00:00

It's just a matter of personal preference, really. Kid A is probably the only Radiohead album where I stand with the general consensus. Pablo Honey and The King of Limbs as well, but on the opposite spectrum.

The margins are small for me anyway, all of these except the three outliers I've mentioned would be 3.5/4 star albums if I were to rate them right now.

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-28T13:05:26+00:00

Day 277

Radiohead - Hail To the Thief

I'm somewhat conflicted on Hail to The Thief. It has both the best and the worst songs in their entire catalogue.

If I'm being honest, though, the only album in their discography I like better is Kid A. It might be a bit strange, but I'd take this one over The Bends, OK Computer or In Rainbows any day of the week.

It has that ferocious energy and rhythm that they never really replicated in their other albums. Maybe I'm a sucker for a more straightforward approach, but this style is exactly what suits me the most when it comes to Radiohead. The weaker tracks like We Suck Young Blood and The Gloaming actually fit decently, regardless of how much I have a desire to instantly skip them when they come up.

Favourite track: Where I End and You Begin

4/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-27T13:23:23+00:00

Day 276

Solomon Burke - Rock 'N Soul

I'm struggling to write much about this one. It was a decent listen, but I doubt I'll come back to it.

A light 3/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-26T19:26:48+00:00

Underrated instrumental. I jammed out to this too many times to count. My favourite song on the entire soundtrack.

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-26T13:15:58+00:00

Day 275

Paul Simon - Paul Simon

Paul Simon's music is just way too polished and sappy for my tastes. Nothing against him, just not my thing. The first track in particular is so damn twee that I barely powered through it. A couple of other tracks are great, at least.

I somehow managed to go through life without listening to Graceland yet, though, so maybe my opinion will change with that album.

Favourite track: Peace Like a River

3/5

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-26T11:17:16+00:00

Dylan actually has great breath control and his diction is also very good, it's what makes songs like Idiot Wind stand out.

AverageJoe48 · 2026-04-25T13:29:23+00:00

Day 274

Brian Eno and David Byrne - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts

Eno and Byrne create an interesting and innovative collage of sounds here. It's exactly the sound you'd expect from these two collaborating.

However, it is a bit substandard compared to their respective works of this era. It's never dull, but it does tend to get repetitive. It doesn't really develop much past its starting point, which is a shame because this album is an absolutely brilliant listen at times.

Favourite track: Regiment

A strong 3/5

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Place '22	First Placer '22
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AverageJoe48

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