The SeattleLofts 2018 Album List

There are certainly albums on this list that I’ve listened to countless (n) times, but this project is really aimed at filling my musical blindspots. It’s more than listening to an album once - most demand several listens (see: Low). Rating scale below:

Scale

Incredible / Amazing - The album as a whole is an experience
Very Good - All songs are great, a couple resulting in a cathartic response
Pretty Good - Entirely listenable, a couple of songs are stand outs
Ok - Hit or miss, a couple of solid songs but then a bunch of filler (see:Appetite For Destruction)
Not Great - Some songs are listenable, but overall just a chore to listen to
Awful / The Worst - Little is redeeming, a pretty rough listening experience

12/31 Ys - Joanna Newsom

1st Listen: Ok

12/30 In The Court Of The Crimson King - King Crimson

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

12/29 Bitte Orca - Dirty Projectors

1st Listen: Ok

12/28 Meat Puppets II - Meat Puppets

1st Listen: Pretty good

12/27 Mirrored - Battles

1st Listen: Ok

12/26 Beggars Banquet - The Rolling Stones

1st Listen: Ok

12/25 Naked - Talking Heads

1st Listen: Ok

12/24 Sister - Sonic Youth

1st Listen: Ok

12/23 The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars - David Bowie

Nth Listen: Very good/ incredible

12/22 Elephant - The White Stripes

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

12/21 It’s Never Been Like That - Phoenix

1st Listen: Ok

12/20 Let It Bleed - The Rolling Stones

1st Listen: Pretty good

12/19 Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

1st Listen: Ok

12/18 Head Hunters - Herbie Hancock

1st Listen: Pretty good

12/17 Y - The Pop Group

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

12/16 The Stooges - The Stooges

1st Listen: Ok

12/15 Solid Gold - Gang Of Four

1st Listen: Ok

12/14 On Fire - Galaxie 500

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

12/13 Guitar Romantic - The Exploding Hearts

1st Listen: Pretty good

12/12 Sweet Baby James - James Taylor

1st Listen: Not great

12/11 Dusty In Memphis - Dusty Springfield

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

12/10 Off The Wall - Michael Jackson

1st Listen: Ok

12/9 This Year’s Model - Elvis Costello & The Attractions

1st Listen: Ok

12/8 The Blueprint - Jay Z

1st Listen: Ok

12/7 20 Golden Greats: Buddy Holly Lives - Buddy Holly, The Crickets

1st Listen: Ok

12/6 Horses - Patti Smith

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

12/5 Tapestry - Carole King

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

12/4 Pleased To Meet Me - The Replacements

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

12/3 One Beat - Sleater-Kinney

1st Listen: Ok

12/2 Pinkerton - Weezer

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

12/1 The Argument - Fugazi

1st Listen: Not great/ Ok

11/30 Wild Is The Wild - Nina Simone

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/29 Live At The Apollo - James Brown

1st Listen: Ok

11/28 The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn - Pink Floyd

1st Listen: Ok

11/27 Fear Of A Black Planet - Public Enemy

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/26 Monster Movie - Can

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/25 Total Life Forever - Foals

Nth Listen: Very good

11/24 Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes

1st Listen: Pretty good

11/23 F# A# Infinity - Godspeed You! Black Emperor

1st Listen: Ok

11/22 Buzz Or Howl Under The Influence Of Heat - Minutemen

1st Listen: Pretty good

11/21 Out To Lunch - Eric Dolphy

1st Listen: Ok

11/20 Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

11/19 Hot Buttered Soul - Isaac Hayes

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/18 It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - Public Enemy

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

Terminator exit!!

11/17 In Through The Out Door - Led Zeppelin

1st Listen: Ok

11/16 Safe As Milk - Captain Beefheart & His Magical Band

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/15 Moondog - Moondog

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/14 Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin

Nth Listen: Very good

The rest more than makes up for the two lesser tracks.

11/13 Bryter Layter - Nick Drake

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

11/12 Parklife - Blur

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

11/11 Blood On The Tracks - Bob Dylan

1st Listen: Ok

11/10 Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music, Vols. 1&2 - Ray Charles

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/9 Here’s Little Richard - Little Richard

1st Listen: Ok

11/8 The Best Of Django Reinhard - Django Reinhard

1st Listen: Ok

11/7 Where Did You Sleep Last Night Lead Belly Legacy Vol. 1 - Lead Belly

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

There are some classics on this album.

11/6 House Of The Blues - John Lee Hooker

1st Listen: Ok

11/5 Synchronicity - The Police

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/4 Rid Of Me - PJ Harvey

1st Listen: Ok

11/3 Awake - Tycho

Nth Listen: Pretty good

11/2 Everything All The Time - Band of Horses

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

11/1 Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

10/31 Miss E… So Addictive - Missy Elliot

1st Listen: Ok

10/30 The Meadowlands - The Wrens

1st Listen: Very good
2nd Listen: Very good/ incredible
3rd Listen: Very good/ incredible

Highest debut rating of the year. It’s amazing how long this album goes with doing everything right!

10/29 Suburban Light - The Clientele

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

Dreamy and chiller than chill. This album evokes times of old and new. Hints of jazz are mixed with boroque Beatles. But with that said, 1-dimensional. Best served in small doses.

10/28 The Warning - Hot Chip

1st Listen: Pretty good

Cathartic electronic music, yes please. Spotty at times.

10/27 FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good

The album is really good - JT packs a ton of solid songs as highlights. But the rest is by no means filler - there are funky breakdowns, melodies, and great musicianship. It’s a pop album that has depth derived from the marriage of music and lyrics.

It’s an album that has me coming back continously. A great running album, and as a whole a fantastic party album.

10/26 No Age - Nouns

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

Intense and listenable.

10/25 Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

10/24 A Love Supreme - John Coltrane

1st Listen: Ok

10/23 Locust Abortion Technician - Butthole Surfers

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

10/22 Separation Sunday - The Hold Steady

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

10/21 Fever To Tell - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

1st Listen: Pretty good

10/20 In Rainbows - Radiohead

Nth Listen: Very good/ incredible

10/19 Kala - M.I.A

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

10/18 Supreme Clientele - Ghostface Killah

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

1st Listen: Ok

10/16 Hearts of Oak - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

10/15 Alligator - The National

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

10/14 Teens of Denial - Car Seat Headrest

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

10/13 Turn On The Bright Lights - Interpol

1st Listen: Ok

10/12 Agaetis Byrjun - Sigur Ros

1st Listen: Pretty good

10/11 Aladdin Sane - David Bowie

1st Listen: Ok

10/10 Raw Power - The Stooges

1st Listen: Ok

Highlights: Search and Destroy

10/9 Viva Last Blues - Palace Music

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

10/8 Bone Machine - Tom Waits

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

Tom Waits hasn’t come around yet..

10/7 Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys

Nth Listen: Incredible

10/6 All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

10/5 Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book - Ella Fitzgerald

1st Listen: Ok

10/4 Microcastle - Deerhunter

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

10/3 Randy Newman - Randy Newman

1st Listen: Pretty good

10/2 Imperial Bedroom - Elvis Costello & The Attractions

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

Some great arrangements; entirely more barable than Get Happy.

10/1 White Light / White Heat - The Velvet Underground

1st Listen: Pretty good

9/30 The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society - The Kinks

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/29 Is This It - The Strokes

Nth Listen: Very good

9/28 Underwater Moonlight - The Soft Boys

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/27 Rum Sodomy & The Lash - The Pogues

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/26 Crazy Rhythms - The Feelies

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
3rd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/25 The Chronic - Dr. Dre

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/24 Fear And Whiskey - The Mekons

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/23 The Wall - Pink Floyd

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

Some incredible parts, but definitely a share of filler too.

9/22 Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

9/21 Different Class - Pulp

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/20 At Folsom Prison - Johnney Cash

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/19 White Blood Cells - White Stripes

Nth Listen: Very good/ incredible

9/18 Liquid Swords - GZA

1st Listen: Ok

9/17 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - Neil Young

1st Listen: Ok

Highlights: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Cowgirl In The Sand

9/16 Kill The Moonlight - Spoon

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Very good

9/15 Forever Changes - Love

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/14 Apologies To Queen Mary - Wolf Parade

1st Listen: Ok

9/13 The Reminder - Feist

1st Listen: Pretty good

9/12 Meddle - Pink Floyd

1st Listen: Pretty good

9/11 Surf’s Up - Beach Boys

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

Take each song individually and the album is pretty good. But take it as a band grappling with a changing lineup and a changing world, and the album as a whole turns into something more. With members of the band stepping up in their writing and Brian Wilson being pushed away you get a mix of some of the most disenguine (Student Demonstration Time) and painfully genuine (the final tree-song suite) tracks on an album. And what fills in between are fantastic melodies - Don’t Go Near The Water, Disney Girls.

9/10 London Calling - The Clash

1st Listen: Pretty good

Quantity, quality, and variety. What a treat

9/9 Ga Ga Ga - Spoon

Nth Listen: Very good

9/8 The Bends - Radiohead

Nth Listen: Very good/ incredible

9/7 Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

9/6 Singles Going Steady - Buzzcocks

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

When the singles hit, they hit hard. With that said there is no doubt that this album has its share of filler.

9/5 There’s Nothing Wrong With Love - Built To Spill

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

9/4 NEU! - NEU!

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

9/3 Doolittle - Pixies

Nth Listen: Very good

9/2 A Grand Don’t Come For Free - The Streets

1st Listen: Pretty good

Leaning toward Pretty/ very good - this is a solid concept album.

9/1 Willy And The Poor Boys - Creedence Clearwater Revival

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/31 Endless Summer - Fennesz

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

8/30 Midnite Vultures - Beck

Nth Listen: Very good

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/28 Classics - Ratatat

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok

8/27 Rooty - Basement Jaxx

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/26 Visiter - Dodos

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/25 Nevermind - Nirvana

Nth Listen: Very good

8/24 Late Registration - Kanye West

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

8/23 Paranoid - Black Sabbath

1st Listen: Pretty good

The recording sounds timeless - quintessential 70s rock.

8/22 Innervisions - Stevie Wonder

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/21 Live At The Fillmore East - The Allman Brothers Band

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/20 The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/19 The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/18 Person Pitch - Panda Bear

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/17 Hounds of Love - Kate Bush

1st Listen: Ok

8/16 Funeral - Arcade Fire

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

A concept album about nostalgia.

8/15 Live / Dead - Grateful Dead

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

Some highlights on this album, but unfortubately overshadowed by excessive noodling.

8/14 Tea For The Tillerman - Cat Stevens

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

8/13 Loveless - My Bloody Valentine

1st Listen: Pretty good

8/12 What’s The Story Morning Glory - Oasis

1st Listen: Pretty good

There are different schools of Beatles emulation, and it’s difficult to say who did it right and who did it best. See Dusk In Cubist Castle - The Olivia Tremor Control, then listen to this. The former edges toward experimentation - a bit rawer, extending what came before. The latter drills into the sweet spot, creating some great pop. When all is said and done both succeed in what they aim (as far as anyone can tell) to do.

For a less focussed listen, of the two, I’d opt for this guy.

8/11 Isolation Drills - Guided By Voices

1st Listen: Ok

Glad Girls is great, but I nearly fell asleep listening to this album.

8/10 Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins

1st Listen: Pretty good

8/9 Future Days - Can

1st Listen: Ok

8/8 Magnolia Electric Co. - Songs: Ohia

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

8/7 Reign In Blood - Slayer

1st Listen: Ok

When I listened to Husker Du and Black Flag this year, In both cases I was left slightly disapointed - Is this really thrashmetal/ hardcore? Is this really as fast as it goes? The answer is Slayer. Whether you typically hold lyrical content in high regard from your very first listen (I don’t), the raise in heart rate is undeniable from this album’s first track.

8/6 Wowee Zowee - Pavement

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/5 City Music - Kevin Morby

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

8/4 Born In The U.S.A - Bruce Springsteen

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/3 What’s Going On - Marvin Gaye

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

8/2 The Doors - The Doors

1st Listen: Pretty good

8/1 Tim - The Replacements

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

7/31 Freak Out! - Frank Zappa

1st Listen: Ok

7/30 Homogenic - Bjork

1st Listen: Ok

7/29 Houses Of The Holy - Led Zeppelin

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

7/28 Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

7/27 Fun Trick Noisemaker - The Apples In Stereo

1st Listen (7-27): Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen: Very good

7/26 Mars Audiac Quintet - Stereolab

1st Listen: Ok

I want to love them - but how one dimensional!

7/25 Being There - Wilco

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

7/24 Marquee Moon - Television

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

7/23 The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

7/22 Everything Is - Neutral Milk Hotel

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

7/21 On Avery Island - Neutral Milk Hotel

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

7/20 Skylarking - XTC

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

7/19 Transformer - Lou Reed

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

7/18 Suicide - Suicide

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok

Textures and total creepiness - this album is nuts. The texture makes up for the simplicity, but when all is said and done, I would never listen to anything (but Ghost Rider) on this album if I didn’t have to.

7/17 Surfer Rosa - Pixies

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

7/16 Document - REM

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
3rd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
4th Listen: Pretty good

7/15 Ratatat - Ratatat

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good

7/14 Songs From A Room - Leonard Cohen

1st Listen: Ok

You could hear him in Cake - that deadpan country.

7/13 Me Against The World - 2Pac

1st Listen: Ok

7/12 Black Foliage: Animation Music - The Olivia Tremor Control

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

7/11 Back In Black - ACDC

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

7/10 Iaora Tahiti - Mouse On Mars

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

7/9 Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? - of Montreal

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good
5th Listen: Very good

7/8 The Glow, Pt. 2 - The Microphones

1st Listen: Pretty good

7/7 The Gorillaz - The Gorrilaz

Nth Listen: Pretty good

7/6 Dirty Mind - Prince

1st Listen: Ok

7/5 Second Edition - Public Image Ltd.

1st Listen: Not great

7/4 Duty Now For The Future - Devo

1st Listen: Ok

7/3 For Your Pleasure - Roxy Music

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

7/2 Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco

Nth Listen: Incredible

7/1 Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots - The Flaming Lips

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

6/30 To Record Only Water For Ten Days - John Frusciante

1st Listen: Ok

6/29 New Moon - Elliot Smith

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/28 Up On The Sun - Meat Puppets

1st Listen: Ok

6/27 Master of Puppets - Metallica

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/26 #1 Record - Big Star

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

6/25 St. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles

1st Listen: Very good/ incredible

6/24 Let It Be - The Beatles

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

6/23 Abbey Road - The Beatles

1st Listen: Very good/ incredible

So many amazing songs, but it feels like a mix tape.. until the very end.

6/22 Superunknown - Soundgarden

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

6/21 Nilsson Schmilsson - Harry Nilsson

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/20 Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

6/19 A Night At The Opera - Queen

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/18 Signals, Calls and Marches - Mission of Burma

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok

6/17 Sound of Silver - LCD Soundsystem

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

6/16 From A Basement On The Hill - Elliot Smith

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

6/15 Workingman’s Dead - Grateful Dead

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/14 In Utero - Nirvana

1st Listen: Pretty good

6/13 The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

6/12 Music From Big Pink - The Band

1st Listen: Ok

6/11 10 - Pearl Jam

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/10 Under The Bushes Under The Stars - Guided By Voices

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

6/9 Sailing The Seas Of Cheese - Primus

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

6/8 Pink Moon - Nick Drake

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/7 Songs of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

6/6 A Ghost Is Born - Wilco

Nth Listen: Very good

An album I once considered unlistenable. Once I heard the live album once or nine times, I was hooked. This album comes alive after five listens - fantastic lyrics, exprimentation. People who say this album is a misfire after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot haven’t given it the proper time. This album is no Smiley Smile - it switches it up in the best ways while not overly hanging on the coattails of its predecessor.

6/5 Every Picture Tells A Story - Rod Stewart

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok

The drums on Every Picture Tells A Story and the song Maggie May are highlights.

6/4 Band On The Run - Wings

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good
5th Listen: Pretty/ very good

Paul McCartney opens up with two huge songs. The rest of the album is spent dipping his toes into several genres. One has to admire his tastefulness in doing so. Mamunia for instance - a song that channels aspects of African music, while remaining grounded in McCartney’s pop sensibility. It is something that comes off as refreshing in contrast to Paul Simon’s Graceland. He does this all over the album.

While generally executed well, there is some needless filler see: Bluebird. However, despite the choppy mix, McCartney wraps everything up well in Picasso’s Last Words. This is a great album.

6/3 Fakebook - Yo La Tengo

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen (7-27): Pretty good

What a mixed bag. So hard to rate such an album.. but pretty good.

6/2 Keep It Like A Secret - Built To Spill

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

6/1 Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf

1st Listen: Ok

There are moments on this album that are unbearable.

5/31 Ace of Spades - Motorhead

1st Listen: Ok

5/30 Paranoid - Black Sabbath

1st Listen: Pretty good

5/29 Dig Me Out - Sleater-Kinney

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
4th Listen: Ok/ pretty good

5/28 An Awesome Wave - Alt-j

1st Listen: Not great/ Ok

5/27 Cleopatra - The Lumineers

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

5/26 Electric Ladyland - Jimi Hendrix

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

To look up: Was this pre or post meeting Dave Mason? As with previous albums, Jimi Hendrix turns everything on its head. But for this guy the background vocals unfortunately detract - see cross town traffic. They’re vocals that are completely fixed in the 70s sound. Vocals that pull some aspects of this album (helplessly) into the 70s, robbing the music of a sense of timelessness that is found on his other albums.

But with that said, there are standouts on this album - despite the sound of Traffic, Crosstown Traffic - Voodoo Chile - Burning of the Midnight Lamp. Always inventive, his face-melting solos are a highlight.

I guess what I’m trying to say is.. Traffic. Is. The. Worst.

5/25 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

5/24 War - U2

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

5/23 Legend - Bob Marley and the Wailers

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

Every great reggae song has been put on this album. What a tour de force of… reggae. Pretty/ very good.

5/22 Brighten The Corners - Pavement

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

5/21 XO - Elliot Smith

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Very good

5/20 Selected Ambient Works Volume II - Aphex Twin

1st Listen: Ok

5/19 Sublime - Sublime

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

5/18 Either/ Or - Elliot Smith

Nth Listen: Very good

5/17 Nowhere - Ride

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Pretty good

5/16 Dummy - Portishead

1st Listen: Ok

5/15 The Three E.P’s - The Beta Band

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Pretty good

A couple of solid songs with interesting ambient works in between!

5/14 Check Your Head - Beastie Boys

1st Listen: Not great/ ok
2nd Listen: Pretty good

5/13 Damaged - Blackflag

1st Listen: Not great/ ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

You can feel the energy.. even when standing at your desk. I think that’s the point.

5/12 Torches - Foster The People

4/5th Listen: Pretty/ very good

5/11 Emperor Tomato Ketchup - Stereolab

1st Listen: Not great/ ok
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

On subsequent listens, this album is catchy!

5/10 This Nation’s Saving Grace - The Fall

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

5/9 Bubble & Scrape - Sebadoh

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

This album is in the mix. The tonality is inventive. There are big songs. The lyrics at times are lacking, but when all is said and done - what a break up album!

5/8 Psychocandy - The Jesus And Mary Chain

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

It starts off strong, but after six songs the texture grows old.

5/7 Double Nickels On The Dime - Minutemen

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

You have to realize that it’s a lot - over an hour long is tough. Once digested, there’s a lot of greatness in this album - Mile Watt’s bass is prominent throughout. The main attraction is D Boone’s guitar work - treble turned to 11, funk strumming, and imperfect shredding. The album feels like summer - but not beach summer. It has the feeling of roadtrip/ errand summer in the 85 degree heat where a cloud of brown dust kicks up as a pickup truck drives away as you wait for your shitty 85’ (insert car name) to fill up.

With the over saturation of the beach summer music, Double Nickels On The Dime comes welcomed with arms wide open.

5/6 You’re Living All Over Me - Dinosaur Jr.

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good
5th Listen: Pretty/ very good

5/5 This Is Happening - LCD Soundsystem

Nth Listen: Pretty good

5/4 Saturday Night Fever - Various

1st Listen: Ok

The first handful of songs are incredible. Unfortunately, the rest feels like movie filler. A fairly imbalanced album.

5/3 Screamadelica - Primal Scream

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Pretty good

5/2 Perfect From Now On - Built To Spill

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good

5/1 Goat - The Jesus Lizard

1st Listen: Not great/ ok
2nd Listen: Not great/ ok

4/30 The Clash - The Clash

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

On first listen, The Clash appear my rhythmically vaired than The Ramones, and more accessible than the Sex Pistols.

4/29 Gimme Fiction - Spoon

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

4/28 Rubber Soul - The Beatles

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

4/27 Like A Virgin - Madonna

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

4/26 Stardust - Willie Nelson

1st Listen: Ok

4/25 Power, Corruption & Lies - New Order

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Pretty good

4/24 Exile In Guyville - Liz Phair

1st Listen: Not great
2nd Listen: Ok

4/23 Aquemini - Outkast

1st Listen: Ok

4/22 Modern Vampires of the City - Vampire Weekend

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

What is it about this album that makes it seem Koanig’s voice is completely separated from the music. The album is pretty good despite this. None the less, I wonder if this is what’s meant when people say they could “hear the pro tools”?

4/21 Summerteeth - Wilco

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

First listen in a couple of years.

4/20 Damn The Torpedoes - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

1st Listen: Ok

4/19 Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

The album is really in its lyrics. Thoroughly enjoyable songs, albeit few memorable.

4/18 Aja - Steely Dan

1st Listen: Not great/ ok

4/17 The Stranger - Billy Joel

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

Like Springsteen, once you get over the cheesiness, the music is verrry good.

4/16 Spiderland - Slint

1st Listen: Not great/ ok
2st Listen: Ok

4/15 Bee Thousand - Guided By Voices

1st Listen: Ok
2st Listen: Ok/ Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

4/14 Pod - The Breeders

1st Listen: Ok/ Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good

4/13 Grace - Jeff Buckley

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good

The guy’s singing is unbelievable! With that said, there were few songs that actually hooked me.

4/12 Ramones - Ramones

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

This album is upbeat, but wow how every song sounds the same. Great for starting your day, but nothing that is truly amazing.

4/11 American Water - Silver Jews

1st Listen: Pretty (very?) good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good
5th Listen: Pretty/ very good

How this album has grown on me! By the 4th listen it’s all I could think about. The harmonies are a highlight.

4/10 Astral Weeks - Van Morrison

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Not great/ ok
3rd Listen: Not great

On second listen, I could barely get through. The songs all sound the same in. When you space back in, you realize that Van Morrison has been screaming in your ear for the past twenty minutes. My response: Van Morrison suuuucks.

4/9 Alien Lanes - Guided By Voices

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good

This album is quantity and quality. When I thought I had rediscovered all of those songs I had once heard in passing as a child, I came upon this album (Motor Away). The flawless first half makes up for the more challenging second. Very good.

4/8 Entertainment! - Gang of Four

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok

4/7 Last Splash - The Breeders

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good
6th Listen: Very good
7th Listen: Very good/ incredible

This album is thoroughly enjoyable all the way through. It’s clear to see Kim Deal’s influence on the Pixes.

4/6 Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Not great/ ok

4/5 Bossanova - Pixies

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

4/4 Mr. Hood - KMD

1st Listen: Ok

4/3 Illmatic - Nas

1st Listen: Ok/ Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

4/2 Ready To Die - The Notorious B.I.G.

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

4/1 Enter The Wu-Tang - Wu-Tang Clan

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

3/31 Loaded - The Velvet Underground

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

3/30 Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

Modern and vulnerable - it’s amazing that this album was made when it was. Maybe things haven’t really changed in the last 40 years for twenty-something-year-olds.

3/29 Trans Europe Express - Kraftwerk

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

3/28 Red Medicine - Fugazi

1st Listen: Ok

3/27 I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One - Yo La Tengo

1st Listen: Pretty good

3/26 Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space - Spiritualized

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

The commonalities between this and the Gorillaz is unmistakable. Com’on Damon!

3/25 Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division

1st Listen: Ok

3/24 Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Pretty good

3/23 Who’s Next - The Who

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

3/22 Tago Mago - Can

1st Listen: Ok

3/21 The Specials - The Specials

1st Listen: Pretty good

3/20 Young Team - Mogwai

1st Listen: Ok

3/19 The Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Very good
3rd Listen: Very good/ incredible
4th Listen: Very good/ incredible
5th Listen: Very good/ incredible

Indulgent. Emotional. Incredible.

3/18 The Lonesome Crowded West - Modest Mouse

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Very good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen: Very good/ incredible
5th Listen: Very good

This album is the concentrate of Modest Mouse.

3/17 Dusk At Cubist Castle - The Olivia Tremor Control

1st Listen: Pretty.. very? good
2nd Listen: Very good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good

Definitively, very good. Pop that doesn’t emulate, but builds on those that came before. It feels as though The Beatles’ experimentation had been boiled down into ideas that worked and those that didn’t - the ideas that worked soley realized through this album. Everything from Jumping Fences to the 10x Green Typewriters - “How much longer.. can I wait?”, in 1996 we had arrived.

3/16 Richard D. James Album - Aphex Twin

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

I can’t help but think that I found this album pretty inacessible on the first listen. After three or four more over the course of the last few years, I think I’m sold. 4 opens the album and goddamn what an opener - the drum machine, the melody that feels like an electric eel working its way through a computer. The sounds and textures feel tangible. The emotion that is wrung out the circuits that made this album (especially on Girl/Boy) - palpable. Strangely, with the highlights so bright, there is a sense of filler. That is, filler that will almost certainly win me over in the years to come. Bravo Richard D. James, bravo.

3/15 Electric Warrior - T. Rex

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

So hard to tell who influenced them and who they influenced - the opening track sounds like the Black Keys. The follow ups sound like they ripped off Bowie and the Beatles. T.Rex, man.. pretty.. good.

3/14 Painful - Yo La Tengo

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen: Very good

Highlights: I Was the Fool Beside You for Too Long, The Whole of the Law

Wow. The album brings you somewhere else.

3/13 Thriller - Michael Jackson

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

Sooo many hits.

3/12 The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

Hit or miss, but when it hits it hits!

3/11 Light Upon The Lake - Whitney

Nth Listen: Very good

It’s amazing that after nearly two years of regular listening, I haven’t gotten sick of this album. Perhaps the best summer album ever put to recording medium.

3/10 Amnesiac - Radiohead

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Very good

3/9 Otis Blue Otis Redding Sings Soul - Otis Redding

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

3/8 Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil

1st Listen: Pretty good

Should I ever be stranded in dire circumstances, I only hope I have this album - happy, experimental music that makes you feel as though you’re treking the Amazon rainforest. Cheers Gilberto, cheers.

3/7 Slanted And Enchanted - Pavement

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Very good

3/6 The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady - Charles Mingus

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

More tolerable than free form jazz - Mingus actually has a composition he’s working with. Employing a variety of musicians, he leads the group to create some emotional music.

3/5 Aftermath - Rolling Stones

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good (maybe very good)
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good

3/4 Discovery - Daft Punk

1st Listen: Very good

3/3 Smiley Smile - Beach Boys

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

Good Vibrations is amazing, but the rest of the album leaves a lot to be desired after Pet Sounds. Some tracks are needlessly obscure (She’s Goin Bald), others range between ok and pretty good. Ok/ pretty good.

3/2 Trompe Le Monde - Pixies

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good

This album is great. Albeit not as varied as Doolitle, this album still has direction. I find my self regulary going back to it. There’s anger, layers, and hooks - I’m hooked.

3/1 Os Mutantes - Os Mutantes

1st Listen: Pretty good

Panis Et Circenses - some boroque, some tape delays; can this be the Brazilian Beach Boys or Beatles? A Minha Menina - nope! The album is rich with experimentation - take O Relógio, with an intro that’s practically drowning in reverb, with a quick-cut to colage of tropicalia.

2/28 Stand - Sly & The Family Stone

1st Listen: Pretty good

2/27 I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You - Aretha Franklin

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

2/26 Andy Warhole - The Velvet Underground

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

Better than Pet Sounds? I. Don’t. Think. So.

2/25 After The Gold Rush - Neil Young

Nth Listen: Very good

The songs stand for themselves - keeping instrumentation to a minimum, Neil Young puts a lot of this album’s weight on its melodies. He fully succeeds.

2/24 Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes

Nth Listen: Pretty/ very good

I hadn’t listened to this album in seven years. With a fresh look, it’s still great. If I had an orchard, I’d work til I’m sore - I would too.. I would too.

2/23 Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

2/22 Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley

1st Listen: Pretty good

So this guy Elvis is pretty good.

2/21 Getz/ Gilberto - Stan Getz

1st Listen: Pretty good

This album is easy - it doesn’t take multiple listens to get or enjoy. Is the pay-off less? Perhaps so. But when you’re on-call, this refreshing album may be the best break in your week.

2/20 Sunshine Superman - Donovan

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

2/19 Kid A - Radiohead

1st Listen: Very good
2nd Listen: Very good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen: Very good/ incredible

Hearing rock influences is so common, but this is the first where I heard electronic. Aphex Twin is all over this (in the best ways)! Thom Yorke’s voice bends between instruments. Every track evokes emotion. 10/11 - Mark Mevorah, New York Times

2/18 Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

1st Listen: Pretty good

2/17 Blue - Joni Mitchell

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

2/16 Reckoning - R.E.M

1st Listen: Pretty good

2/15 Goo - Sonic Youth

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

This album is crazy hit or miss.

2/14 Sign ‘O’ The Times - Prince

1st Listen: Pretty good

2/13 Rio - Duran Duran

1st Listen: Not great
2nd Listen: Ok
3rd Listen: Ok

2/12 Bitches Brew - Miles Davis

1st Listen: Pretty good

But honestly, how do you rate such an album. It’s clear that this album is great, but I have no idea why. Lets bank on future listens.

2/11 More Songs About Buildings And Food - Talking Heads

1st Listen: Unknown
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good

Amazing how experimental yet accessible this album is. Hits on hits on hits.

2/10 Odelay - Beck

Nth Listen: Very good/ Amazing
Reevaluation: Very good

I love this album. Perhaps the perfect backdrop for a summer house party.

2/9 Another Green World - Brian Eno

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen (Same Day): Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen: Ok/ pretty good

There is a ton of innovation in this album. With that said the lyrics aren’t great, and there hasn’t been a significant draw to come back.

2/8 Cosmo’s Factory - Creedence Clearwater Revival

1st Listen: Pretty good

2/7 Station To Station - David Bowie

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

2/6 Paul Simon - Paul Simon

1st Listen: Very good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good

Fantastic songs, Paul Simon’s voice is incredible - surely an influence on Elliot Smith. Upon the second listen, the lyrics were lacking in a handfull of songs. Third listen will tell.

2/5 Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain - Pavement

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Very good
3rd Listen: Very good

So many influences and deadpan lyrics, and so much musical variety - this album may have it all. Phenomenal.

2/4 High Violet - The National

Nth Listen: Very good

2/3 Post - Bjork

1st Listen: Ok/ Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

2/2 Exile On Main Street - Rolling Stones

1st Listen: Ok/ Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good
6th Listen: Very good

So many instruments going. Super upbeat. Thoroughly enjoyable.

2/1 Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Devo

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

1/31 Computer World - Kraftwerk

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

1/30 Call Me - Al Green

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

1/29 Appetite For Destruction - Guns N’ Roses

1st Listen: Ok

Slash’s fantastic guitar work is present throughout the album. This along with the three solid songs on this album make it ok. Aside from that, just a ton of filler on boring subject matter.

1/28 The Moon & Antarctica - Modest Mouse

Nth Listen: Incredible

1/27 Rumors - Fleetwood Mac

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good

1/26 Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen

1st Listen: Pretty/ very good
2nd Listen: Very good

The first half of this album is cranked up to 10. Great song writing, tasteful use of the saxaphone, great!

1/25 Never Mind The Bollocks - Sex Pistols

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good
4th Listen: Pretty/ very good

So many catchy songs on this angry album.

1/24 Get Happy - Elvis Costello And The Attractions

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good

The opening track has Elvis Costello at his worst. What really pulled me in was the guitar on Opportunity, and the Ska-esq bass on The Imposter. By Secondary Modern, vocals have dropped to bearable levels. King Horse brings the entire band onto the same level, opening the rest of the album. Perhaps the first three songs grouped together can be thought of as the intro? This would be plausible, but then comes Possesion, as if starting from the beginnig again.

1/23 Abraxas - Santana

1st Listen: Ok/ pretty good
2nd Listen: Ok/ pretty good

1/22 Rain Dogs - Tom Waits

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

The landscapes he paints with his music is extraordinary. The percusion is a highlight.

1/21 Illinois - Sufjan Stevens

Nth Listen: Very good

1/20 The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Ok

1/19 Let It Be - The Replacements

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good

1/18 Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good

On the second listen, finally hear what this album is about - the landscape of dejection and teenage life in the late 80s. To a certain extent some lyrics feel dated. With that said, certain clumsely placed lyrics contribute to the genuiness of some of these songs. Musically this album contains some expansive ideas, all executed by a group that serves as a prime example of what is meant to be a ‘tight band’.

1/17 Murmur - R.E.M

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen (7-18): Pretty/ very good

There is no doubt that this is a great album with excellent song writing.. but god damn does the production feel dated, as though firmly stuck in the era of 80’s dad-rock.

1/16 Purple Rain - Prince

1st Listen: Pretty good

1/15 Remain In Light - Talking Heads

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
3rd Listen: Pretty/ very good
4th Listen: Very good
5th Listen: Very good

The sounds of the 80s? It took time, but this album is fantastic.

1/14 Revolver - The Beatles

Nth Listen: Very good
N+1 Listen: Very good

This album is so great. Although I’m not crazy about the sitar parts, the highlights more than make up for it.

1/13 Joshua Tree - U2

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ Very good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen: Very good

Production has aged very well. Every song is a standout. Phenomenal arrangement, the entire album flow is fantastic.

1/12 Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

1st Listen: Very good
2nd Listen: Very good
3rd Listen: Very good
4th Listen: Very good

1/11 Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty/ very good
Re considered: Pretty good

1/10 Graceland - Paul Simon

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good

1/9 Scary Monsters- David Bowie

1st Listen: Pretty good

1/8 Paul’s Boutique - Beastie Boys

1st Listen: Pretty good

1/7 In the Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel

Nth Listen: Amazing

1/6 New Day Rising - Hüsker Du

1st Listen: Ok

1/5 Zen Arcade - Hüsker Du

1st Listen: Ok

1/4 Everything Falls Apart - Hüsker Du

1st Listen: Not great
2nd Listen: Ok

1/3 Good Bad Not Evil - The Black Lips

1st Listen: Pretty good
2nd Listen: Pretty good
3rd Listen: Pretty good

1/2 13 Songs - Fugazi

1st Listen: Ok
2nd Listen: Unknown
3rd Listen: Pretty good

1/1 Low - David Bowie

1st Listen: Very good
2nd Listen: Very good/ amazing
3rd Listen: Very good/ incredible
4th Listen: Very good

Only one single if any - Sound and Vision. Otherwise the album lives only as a whole - tracking Bowies progression from addiction to the next phase in his career.

Upon 3rd listen, this album holds it’s rank - Just an incredible amount of ideas and innovation, forseeing the next three decades of music. But on the 4th listen when all is said and done, it doesn’t pull me back in for repeat listens.

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