May 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM

231. Can - Tago Mago (1971) [May 10th, 2025]

Back in 2022, this was the first Can record that I had ever heard, and I was not a fan. Looking back, Ege Bamyasi would've been a better intro, but I was also the type of teenager who thought Green Day was "alternative", so I might not have enjoyed that one either. I thankfully enjoyed Tago Mago much more this time around.

Once again, I have to acknowledge that I have no clue about what Damo Suzuki is singing about. He sounds pretty d--- good though. I enjoyed the instrumentals a lot more this time, with the chaotic "Aumgn" being a highlight. I used to despise "Peking O." but I MOSTLY enjoy it now (the second half is not my cup of tea)

Overall, I'm glad that I revisited Tago Mago, and I hope to be able to appreciate Can's discography more over time.

 

May 10, 2025 at 9:04 PM

232. Kanye West - Graduation (2007) [May 10th, 2025]

Is it a bit awkward to revisit large parts of Kanye's discography amidst his musical/personal downfall? Yeah, but I guess I have to remind myself why I fell in love with his music in the first place.

MBDTF was my first album from him, but Graduation is the album that got me hooked onto Kanye. In a lot of ways, I'd say that this record is the best intro for people wanting to get into his music. Even though its part of the Dropout Trilogy, I think this album pairs better with 808's instead of TCD and LR. A big part of this has to do with the fact that Graduation's musical soundscape is much different. This album was just meant for stadiums man. Songs like "Stronger" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing" just feel huge man. "Champion" was the first Kanye song that I ever loved, and songs like "I Wonder", "Good Life" and "Flashing Lights" are classics for a reason. "Barry Bonds" and "Drunk and Hot Girls" are good songs too, and I will fight off any slander. "Big Brother" definitely comes off a bit different considering how complicated Ye and Jay'z relationship has gotten over time, but its still a great closer.

Graduation has an incredibly important place in my heart, and even though I don't revisit as often as Ye's other albums (mainly because I overplayed it a lot in 2020 lmao) I always have a great time when I listen to it. For anybody that loves Graduation as much as I do, I heavily recommend the bonus track, "Bittersweet Poetry" with John Mayer. It's a great track!!!

 

May 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM

As I recall, I know you love to show off (off)
But I never thought that you would take it this far (far)
What do I know?

 

May 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM

233. Kanye West- Late Registration (2005) [May 11th, 2025]

The middle part of the dropout trilogy, and my 4th Ye album if I remember correctly. Whereas I have revisited The College Dropout and Graduation a few times in the past few months, I have to admit that I don't really revisit Late Registration that much. I don't even have a reason why, I just don't. I have to admit that I find LR to be the weakest entry in the trilogy, but its still pretty d--- great.

To begin with, "Heard 'Em Say" is a great intro, and the fact that its followed up by all time classics like "Touch the Sky" and "Gold Digger" gives LR one of the best openings to an album ever. As a Houston fanboy, "Drive Slow" is absolutely incredible for me. Overall I'd say that the first 9 tracks (including skits) are absolutely incredible. But then, we get a few tracks that aren't bad by any means, but aren't my favorites. I've never been too big on "Bring Me Down" or "Celebration" and "Addiction" is fine. The "Diamonds" remix, "We Major", "Hey Mama", and "Gone" are absolutely great though.

Overall, I still really enjoy Late Registration, even though it doesn;t rank that highly for me amongst Ye's other projects (VERY unpopular opinion I know)

 

May 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM

234. The Doors - Strange Days (1967) [May 11th, 2025]

I'll be completely honest...this record did nothing for me. Like, I struggle to come up with anything to say about it. Its just their debut but much weaker

 

May 13, 2025 at 2:48 PM

But Yeezus is masterpiece

 

May 13, 2025 at 2:51 PM

235. The Who - Who's Next (1971) [May 13th, 2025]

My first full album by The Who!!!! and it's....underwhelming. "Baba O'Riley" is an incredible track, and I think it's "Black Dog"-levels of epic. The rest of the songs though? They're serviceable, but aside form "Behind Blue Eyes", none of them did much for me. Keith Moon's drumming is very good though, and he absolutely kills it on "Won't Get Fooled Again"

 

May 13, 2025 at 10:18 PM

236. Drake - Take Care (2011) [May 13th, 2025]

Without a doubt, Drake's best record. I've said it before, but I'm not a Drake hater. Am I a Drake FAN??? Sure. In contrast to other rappers like Eminem or Kanye, Drake doesn't really have "bad" albums, at worst, they're incredibly boring. Thankfully, this is not the case with Take Care.

A big part of Take Care's success has to be its cohesiveness. No other Drake record feels this consistent. "Over My Dead Body" has to be one of his best intros without a doubt, and it sets up the record perfectly. This is Drake when he is still on the come up, and he's filled with energy that sadly isn't as prevalent nowadays. "Headlines", "Crew Love" and "Take Care are still well regarded hits for a reason, and "Marvin's Room" will forever be the definitive depressive/pathetic fuckboy anthem lmao. "Buried Alive (Interlude), has definitely...aged due to recent events, but it still works. "Lord Knows" is probably the best track on the record, and both Drake and Rick Ross absolutely body that godly Just Blaze beat.

I honestly enjoy Take Care more and more every time that I listen to it. i used to think that the album dropped off a bit after track 11, but tracks like "Doing It Wrong" and "The Real Her" were highights for me this time around. "The Ride" is an incredible closer, and it wraps the record up perfectly. I do think that "Look What You've Done" kinda kills the momentum for a bit, and I've never been a big fan of "HYFR..." but overall, I think that Take Care is still a great record. Granted, I would rank it below other 2011-12 projects like GKMC or LLA, but I still think that it holds up pretty well.