sleeplog25(2): i guess this is growing up
TLDR: I will be spending February attempting to listen to 100 of my first 500 ratings (i.e. around 4 albums a day). These will be things I heard ages 10 to 20 i.e. from school and uni years to my first job (2007 to 2018). I will be documenting that process here. I am scared. More details see (1) below. |
| 1 |  | Elbow
Asleep In The Back
I have spent most of the last 2 years listening to NEW THINGS.
In 2023 I did the 2023 rec comp series, different genre each month, with all albums selected by users. Good year.
I followed it by a 1-new-album-every-day diary thing in 2024 (albums I picked) as a therapeutic habitual writing/listening exercise THING and had been continuing that in 2025 BUT will be mixing it up for at least this month.
As a break from exploration, thought it would be entertaining / masochistic to relisten to my most formative albums, things I (largely) do not listen to any more, but which I grew up on. Ideally to be attempted in chronological order (ish).
Will I rediscover old gems? Will I go insane? Is this a good idea? How much of my life am I about to waste? YES YES YES YES. let us go.
NB / aside: This album was not something I ever listened to as a kid, but is where my name comes from. There is an explanation for that that doesn't warrant explaining. Onwards! |
| 2 |  | Escape the Fate
This War Is Ours
SECONDARY SCHOOL /// YEARS 7 TO 11 /// AGES 10 TO 15 /// POST-PRIMARY TO GCSEs /// 2007 TO 2011
When Relistened: 1st February 2025
When First Listened: 2008 (12yo)
Post-Hardcore / Emo-Pop [2008]
This is yuck in many ways but guilty pleasure bubbles to the surface on "On to the Next One" and "It's Just Me". Toes mostly curled throughout. I vividly recall being made fun of for listening to this. Fair enough. |
| 3 |  | The Used
Lies for the Liars
When Relistened: 1st February 2025
When First Listened: 2007 (11yo)
Post-Hardcore / Alt Rock [2007]
I saw Transformers 1 in the cinema, decided it was my favourite movie (I was eleven), bought the soundtrack and jammed everything on it to heck. One I still have a huge soft spot for; pretty handsome awkward is the tunes, wake the dead is stupid (fun), there's a great neon-hued horror aesthetic here that the alex pardee art always did just to and tbh im still here for this album. |
| 4 |  | Linkin Park
Minutes to Midnight
When Relistened: 1st February 2025
When First Listened: 2007 (11yo)
Alt Rock / Pop Rock [2007]
Another autobot heirloom and (I think) the second actual CD I ever bought AND my introduction to my teenage fandom. Given Up was the heaviest thing in the world (and still is). Valentine's Day was profound, so was Bleed It Out, so was No More Sorrow, but fuck WHAT IVE DONE will always be screamed into the sunset. Jammed in the car playing Yu-Gi-Oh on the DS. Though I still hug this album via rose-tinted nostalgia I am starting to think this list was a mistake. Alas.
Bought Reanimated at the same time, then HT, then the rest of it. My upbringing, melted into one band. Jammed on school bus, perpetually. |
| 5 |  | Three Days Grace
One-X
When Relistened: 1st February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Post-Grunge / Alt Rock [2006]
Memories of MostorStorm Pacific Rift on the Ps3 and jamming this gah it was simpler to be small. Also memories of being made fun of for this, for some reason in history class me and someone I didnt know but who was popular jamming this on my ipod nano, one earphone each, and him critisising the chord progression in Animal I Have Become (because, reasons? twat). Awful awful awful album except that the hooks dig stuck quick and fast Time of Dying, Riot and the aforementioned all go reasonably well. |
| 6 |  | Lostprophets
Liberation Transmission
When Relistened: 2nd February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Alt Rock / Pop Rock [2006]
Preface: ian watkins is a sack of shit (obviously)
I got halfway through this before realising this isn't the one with Burn Burn and therefore is also the one that they started sucking on. I saw them live ian was weird as fuck even in whenever that was, 2012 maybe, took his shirt off, threw beer at the crowd. Big yucks.
Jammed with Billy in form. |
| 7 |  | Shinedown
The Sound of Madness
When Relistened: 2nd February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Post-Grunge / Hard Rock [2008]
Genuinely forgot that a lot of my early music taste was influenced by what looked new and interesting on the shelves of HMV. Why I picked this up with this album art i do not know. Memories of listening to this in mum's beaten up silver ford ka on the school run, her telling me it (and Billy Talent I) was too loud for 7am. It probably was. Probably (also) the best shinedown (at least of the albums I heard) and still mostly fucks (Devour, Second Chance, Cry For Help, gahhh). Black and white was clearly the vibe. |
| 8 |  | Bowling for Soup
Sorry for Partyin'
When Relistened: 2nd February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Pop Punk / Power Pop [2009]
I saw these guys live. Three times. One of those times I bumped into (I shit you not) my physics teacher. He was in the pit. I pushed him. I then lost my shoe. Fucking atrocious album my goodness. Borrowed all their albums from a mate (Elliott) who I saw all the concerts with, all in Leeds. We chanted Yorkshire, they thought we were chanting You’re Shit. My ringtone used to be the bonus track from this. It all comes full circle. |
| 9 |  | DragonForce
Inhuman Rampage
When Relistened: 3rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2007 (11yo)
Power Metal [2006]
Complete fucking curveball (maybe) incoming: this was the first CD I ever purchased. Cause: Guitar Hero III, which makes it somewhat less curveball-esque and very much on trend with me jammign whatever the other media i was consuming at the time suggested that i ought jam. Fire and Flames actually not the star of the show here; Revolution Deathsquad and Ground Pound (god these names) doing more for me. Though supporting my musical discovery "journey", my dad made fun of me for buying this. There are themes emerging... |
| 10 |  | U2
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
When Relistened: 3rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2005/6 (9/10yo)
Pop Rock / Alt Rock [2004]
Before I had the pocket money / inclination to buy my own CDs, I was gifted a non-branded MP3 player for my birthday, on which my dad installed the following three albums that (i guess) he happened to be listening to at the time and deemed appropriate for a 9 year old: Fatboy Slim's You've Come Along Way Baby (the fuck), Avril Lavigne's Let Go, and this. Not quite grasping the idea that just because I couldn't hear anyone else, that didnt mean others cant hear me, my parents have a video of me screaming my lungs out to Vertigo on our garden climbing frame with earbuds in like some unstoppable idiot. Gah.
More so that any other album on the list so far, this is lame. Previous entries are clearly juvenile and vapid, but not dull (absurd, in the case of 8). This is just beige, a cardigan, it blows. |
| 11 |  | Bullet For My Valentine
Scream Aim Fire
When Relistened: 3rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Melodic Metalcore [2008]
The Poison is better, obviously, and the one I do very occasionally return to, but fair play to them, this also has some cracking hooks (Last to Know goes). Rec'd to me by the same mate that I saw BFS with - pretty sure he stole the CDs from his brothers and lend them to me to rip. Jammed at an age when I struggled to spell valentine - memories of a text message exchange on my shitty nokia brick with a girl in my class where this alphabetically challenged problem was pointed out to me. |
| 12 |  | McFly
Motion In The Ocean
When Relistened: 3rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2006 (10yo)
Power Pop / Pop Rock [2006]
Memories of me and my kid sis jamming in that same battered silver ford ka with my mum. Not gonna lie, goes far harder than it should. Star Girl currently living rent free in my head. Transylvania a genuinely great Queen-esque hommage. Friday Night banger. Don't Stop Me Now cover safe as hell but transitioning into a great live bonus track. Dont look at me like that I have good taste.
Another memory of me having handed my ipod to Laura in my form who liked mcfly and therefore acknowledged my existance because I had an ipod with mcfly on it. She was listening, handed it back to me, forgot to press pause, i then went into assembly with the thing still blaring in my pocket, loud enough to be heard by those sat next to me despite just being lil apple ear buds, i couldn't get the damn thing to turn off, teachers noticed, was embarrassed, suppressed trauma, dumb child, etc. |
| 13 |  | Slipknot
All Hope Is Gone
When Relistened: 3rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Alt Metal / Nu Metal [2008]
Rec'd by the same mate as 11. My first slipknot. The music video for Psychosocial made me feel cooler than I was. Had to persuade my parents to let me buy the CD. Recall my mum asking my dad what "Pseudo-sacrosanct perversion" meant just to check le music wouldn't turn me towards the devil ig. A few years later I got Vol.3 in my Christmas stocking so ig I remained untainted / andor my parents stopped caring when I hit like 15.
Jammed in art class with Ollie. |
| 14 |  | Sum 41
Chuck
When Relistened: 3rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Melodic Hardcore [2004]
Amusingly, given the direction my music taste later went, I found this too heavy when I first heard it, and preferred Underclass Hero. Jammed with Tess and Piers in art class. Unexpected wholesome moment: I hadnt listened to "Pieces" in years and had forgotten how much that song meant to me. First song I ever learnt on guitar (a shitty simplified 4 chord mess of a tab but still) and the way it validates imperfection, it's okay to be you, you are enough, all of those vibes, probably saved my dumb 13 year old life or some shit. Good band. |
| 15 |  | Metallica
St. Anger
When Relistened: 4th February 2025
When First Listened: 2008 (12yo)
Alt / Thrash / Groove Metal [2003]
Recurring theme 2: I had a habit of checking an artists newest album, rather than their mostly highly regarded, ig because i didnt know the internet could help me discern wheat and chaff, and because i had a weird recency bias (for which I blame what will be 17).
Unexpected observation: this has weird stoner/desert rock Kyuss vibes to some of the riffs/guitar tone that I've never picked up on before. Also, Hatfield's vox are occasionally unhinged and epic, as is the rhythmic shenanigans. Also, eek the lyrics the mix the title track and lars lars lars LARS brother. Bought in reaction to a guy at school saying three days grace and linkin park were lame and i should jam "real music", but evidently bought the wrong Metallica as he scolded me for my purchasing decisions. Weird place to start with them, with hindsight, granted.
*whispers* i mostly enjoyed this don't stone me |
| 16 |  | Hollywood Undead
Swan Songs
When Relistened: 4th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Rap Rock [2008]
Memories of jamming in religious studies class learning about jesus. Honestly, Everywhere I Go remains the catchiest thing of all time and the way this flip flops between misogynistic homophobic bangers (dead in ditches is yuck, but currently rent free between my eyes), sad boi ballads, and scene screams is the mix that shouldnt work and somehow (begrudgingly) does. Band are shit sacks for various reasons (the suicide glorification on the next album did my teenage brain no favours) but I cant lie i had fun. |
| 17 |  | My Chemical Romance
I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
When Relistened: 4th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Post-Hardcore / Emo [2002]
Solely responsible for my aversion to "old" music for the best part of 5 years - i assumed that the messy performances/prod here, compared to Black Parade, was indicative not of this particular band's progression, but of ALL debut albums and ALL music pre (like) 2004 ... I was dumb.
Not my first MCR (memories instead of hearing the black parade on the stereo of my child minders car at age 11, then buying that CD and jamming while playing Jack X on the ps2 but you don't need quite that level of introspection oops) I initially thought this album was shit, but it aint! Learnt Romance on guitar after thinking MCR wrote it (they didnt) performances all over this are as frantic and raw and ig maybe genuine and unfiltered as GW and co ever went and i can feel the black hair dye eyeliner and ripped jeans materializing on my person as i type ima stop
Jammed in DT with Hannah. |
| 18 |  | Andrew W.K.
I Get Wet
When Relistened: 4th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Hard Rock / Power Pop / Party [2001]
Playing Black Ops 1 and screaming to this. I still get wet without even trying.
Also only just noticed that he released this on 1st January 2001. Dropped in the aftermath of the party of the millennium. Absolute mad lad. |
| 19 |  | Nickelback
All the Right Reasons
When Relistened: 5th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Post-Grunge / Pop Rock [2005]
Bought Silver Side Up cd when I was like 12, was scratched, I was sad man, but not as sad as relistening to this. A chore, though Animals still conjures a toe tap, granted. Listened in math class with Johnny and Kirsty. |
| 20 |  | Papa Roach
Getting Away With Murder
When Relistened: 5th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Alt Rock / Ex Nu Metal [2004]
God this was a stupid idea. Better than 19, but “Scars” (which I had treated equivalently to “Pieces” in my rose box of important songs in my growing up) ain’t the sauce - jammed while lamenting unrequited love, but not stood time test. T/T does go, though. Remember borrowing one of their CDs from my mum’s colleague at work was that not a poor omen? Sighs in big papa. |
| 21 |  | Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows
D.R.U.G.S.
When Relistened: 5th February 2025
When First Listened: 2011 (15yo)
Hot Topic [2011]
Ngl, actually great. Hook bomb, screamable, melody city, got charm from toes to toupee. Jammed at cams. Spiritual successor to 3? No strong memories associated with this, just these choruses reverberate in my chest like I’ve heard them 1000s of times (maybe I did idk). Jammed with Cam the fucking weirdo. |
| 22 |  | All That Remains
Overcome
When Relistened: 5th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Melodic Metalcore [2008]
Pretty i found my way here via YouTube recommending me A Song For The Hopeless, playing flash games on my grandads Mac. Subsequently jammed replaying ratchet and clank. I then bought the cd and convinced my grandma to play it in the car when she drove me and my sis back to my parents after she had looked after us while my parents were doing life and stuff and she didn’t care for it very much. |
| 23 |  | You Me At Six
Hold Me Down
When Relistened: 5th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Pop Punk [2010]
Unnnndddeeeerdoooooooogggggggg is a tune. Pop Punk as a vehicle for existing in the eyes of a woman? Probably. Jammed in RS with SLDSKLSSP. |
| 24 |  | All Time Low
Don't Panic
When Relistened: 5th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Pop Punk [2012]
This is slightly out of the GCSE period ... Nothing Personal was my 2009 jam but Don’t Panic blew that all to strudel. First 4 songs here rent free in my brain for 3 solid years. Jamming over Christmas in car to Spanish uncles house. I could go through half a dozen of these (Boys Like Girls, A Rocket To The Moon, Offspring, Good Charlotte, Mayday Parade, Blink, Paramour, New Found Glory) but, like, let’s not? |
| 25 |  | Eminem
Recovery
When Relistened: 5th February 2025
When First Listened: 2011 (15yo)
Hip Hop / Pop Rap [2010]
First Eminem (or Curtain Call, can't remember). First rap album. Heard love the way you lie in HMV, bought the album on the spot, thought most of it was shit, but but but but but you know what it’s aged well (or is it just that he’s got worse since?). Never really sunk into the lyrics of Going Through Changes but shit his penmanship was good then (in addition to the insulting everyone for no reason, but not coming across as a piss baby). Some of the flows on WTP, Cinderella Man, Untitled, Cold Wind, On Fire, etc etc etc, cut all the typical em lack of editing down yourself and there’s a solid album here. Or is my unexpected enjoyment a symptom of overdoing the guitar music? Jammed Curtain Call more, with Black Ops 1. |
| 26 |  | Seether
Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces
When Relistened: 6th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Post Grunge / Alt Metal [2007]
Was jamming Karma and Effect in 2008 playing resistance on ps3 (scary as a tiny human), jamming with Burnout Paradise, jamming on way to grandmas house oddly specific memory but there you go. Lavishly melodic in ways I wasn’t expecting. Particularly love the quieter sections of No Jesus Christ, which I’m pretty sure I used to skip through. Overly dramatic eyeliner core was a greater part of my wheelpark than I realised. Got here via Breaking Benjamin, Spotify rec.
I mean it’s true what they say but I didn’t expect it like it’s not just me recalling things and places that I used to be think feel but like I genuinely feel reconnected with another person that used to be me it’s weird it’s great it’s reassuring and grounding and calm. |
| 27 |  | Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
When Relistened: 6th February 2025
When First Listened: 2008 (12yo)
Alt Metal / Heavy Metal [2007]
Bought at the recommendation of Jack from year 8 music class (thank ye jack). Remember finding the solos lame and the choruses awesome. Children suck. Never noticed there was a banjo in Dear God until this very moment. A Little Piece of Heaven still the goat. |
| 28 |  | Rise Against
Appeal to Reason
When Relistened: 6th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Melodic Hardcore / Punk Rock [2008]
Can’t remember if I got here via guitar hero or not but Hero of War forever man. Used to know that on guitar. Must learn to pick slide. Jammed on iPod classic avec winding country lanes. |
| 29 |  | Breaking Benjamin
Phobia
When Relistened: 6th February 2025
When First Listened: 2008 (12yo)
Post Grunge / Alt Metal [2006]
Playing little big planet at cams house, cycling through music recs, I think on Spotify, mostly between this and TDG (his recs) and Skillet/Disturbed (my recs), but was Spotify even a thing in 2008, idk, may be getting my years mixed up. Great pipes has Benjamin. Same oddball grunge-lite magic sauce as 26 idk why it resonates with my synapses with such clarity gah I’m walking on nostalgia bridge trying not to fall off. |
| 30 |  | Elliot Minor
Elliot Minor
When Relistened: 7th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Pop Punk / Symphonic Rock / Cabaret [2008]
Same dick that dissed 5 rec’d me this in response. This sucks.
Today is England music. Music of the English. Go. |
| 31 |  | The Feeling
Twelve Stops And Home
When Relistened: 7th February 2025
When First Listened: 2007 (11yo)
Pop Rock / Power Pop [2006]
Parents jamming in car on way too / from Sainsbury’s (pretty sure my mum crashed car in the multi-storey). My piano’s out of tune I wish it wasn’t. UK breakout to US this band was not, but has a cute aura that only little English bands have for me. Similar memories of the Ting Tings, Razorlight, Scouting for Girls (except they suck), Mumford and Sons (though I mean they did well didn’t they) and… |
| 32 |  | Mika
Life in Cartoon Motion
When Relistened: 7th February 2025
When First Listened: 2007 (11yo)
Pop / Pop Rock [2007]
Rent free rent free rent free rent free the whole damn album. Holds up. Listening on drive to hairdressers. |
| 33 |  | Kaiser Chiefs
Employment
When Relistened: 7th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Indie Rock / Post-Punk Revival [2005]
Great fucking album. Blighty and shit up in your grill. Forgot about this. Always through the guy looked like Raven from that TV show.
God music is weird but great for the way it pries back open a memory door into the past that you didn’t realise had been welded shut by time and then pop hinges burst you’re a teenager again and those 15 years don’t feel like 15 years, you feel like the person that you were by proxy, more whole? more sad? Mourning the parts of myself that have fallen away apart etc, but proud of the infantile traits abandoned. |
| 34 |  | Skillet
Comatose
When Relistened: 9th February 2025
When First Listened: 2008 (12yo)
Christian / Alt Rock [2006]
Took 8th off for my mum's bday. Didn't quite remember how much this oscillated between Yellowcard strings and Breaking Benjamin crunch. Rebirthing, Comatose, Falling, Whispers, I remember being that little lad and screaming along. Looking for Angel's spoken word the worst thing of all time. Little big planet companion number 2 (and katamari). |
| 35 |  | Hadouken!
For The Masses
When Relistened: 9th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
New Rave / Electro House / Grime [2010]
Unexpected post-InvadersMustDie phase. The way my mind conceptualized the entire multifaceted scope of electronic (and therefore why i stayed well clear of it for most of my teens) was that it was this, and Skrillex. Again a rec by Elliott, his brothers bought this, gave it to him, gave it to me. Tunes for bellends (including but not limited to me because I had a big fuck off smile throughout this). |
| 36 |  | Pendulum
In Silico
When Relistened: 9th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Dancefloor Drum and Bass [2008]
Potentially the first electronic anything that i heard, though again may have been InvadersMustDie (fuck no actually it was fatboislim, and then DeadMau5). Johnny in Math made me jam it, hyped it up, TBH i think i just jammed Propane Nightmares and The Tempest, but both banged.
Also revisited Knife Party for the lols the BASS brother. |
| 37 |  | System of a Down
Steal This Album!
When Relistened: 9th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Nu-Metal / Alt Metal [2002]
Bought browsing HMV almost exclusively because (a) of the album art and (b) it says "fuck" on the back of the CD packet and i was an edgy child. Fave SOAD big soft spot points. Jammed in back of car on way to robinhoodsbay for summer holiday with fam. Jammed playing mario striker on i assume the wii? |
| 38 |  | Limp Bizkit
Three Dollar Bill Y'all
When Relistened: 9th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Nu-Metal / Rap Metal [1997]
I tell a lie: I first listened to their collected compilation, which is censored in the weirdest ways, and is therefore no fun. Jamming this in lieu ie best LB ie the screms. Memories of playing with the Resistance games, I think the second one but I can’t remember. Am learning that what I thought was poor prod as a child was actually just my headphones costing £10.99. Jamming with Focals this is beefy. |
| 39 |  | Korn
Greatest Hits Vol. 1
When Relistened: 10th February 2025
When First Listened: 2008 (12yo)
Nu-Metal / Funk Metal [2004]
Second Nu I ever jammed, after LP. Weirdest Nu? Certainly up there with mudvayne for quirk points. I am recalling now my preference for greatest hit CDs and now reflecting on how obsolete they’ve become now you can just stream and playlist your faves. Properly janky comp, starting with two covers and wobbling all over the place thereafter. ADIDAS and Twist were staples of my “show song to friends so they can see how edgy I am” toolkit as a twelve year old. Also weird self harm ideation throughout this ew. Also listened Dope which for some reason so far as my mind is concerned is the same band. |
| 40 |  | Tenacious D
The Pick of Destiny
When Relistened: 10th February 2025
When First Listened: 2010 (14yo)
Jack Black [2006]
Their debut is better but I heard this first so. Rude music was/is entertaining. Leeleeleeleelee leeleelee leeleele ele eleel eelee leelele lelelelle. Lee. By the same token, John Lajoie was a thing. I think I preferred rise of the phoenix too. |
| 41 |  | Skrillex
Bangarang
When Relistened: 10th February 2025
When First Listened: 2011 (15yo)
Brostep [2011]
Listened to in France on end of year 11 school trip. Wubb’d appropriately. The Sprites EPs were better but going with what I have strongest memories of. Ended my GCSEs with it. |
| 42 |  | Thirty Seconds to Mars
This Is War
When Relistened: 10th February 2025
When First Listened: 2011 (15yo)
Big Music [2009]
New favourite rym tag what the fuck is big music. Can my entire taste in music be traced to guitar hero why yes it can. Leto image gone to poop joker performance dumpster fire all the later career albums this was at least singable and earnest. Can you tell I’m losing my mind. Played with the Battlefield 3 demo. |
| 43 |  | Dead by April
Dead by April
When Relistened: 11th February 2025
When First Listened: 2011 (15yo)
Electronicore / Melodic Metalcore [2009]
Uuhhhh I have oddly strong memories of the melodies here but cannot place when/where/why in the fuck I ever heard this album. Feel like this was something I jammed playing cod but who the fuck knows. LOOOOOOK AT MEEEE NOOWW I MAAAAADEEEE ITTTTTTTT (chugga chugga chugga) |
| 44 |  | Darkest Hour
Deliver Us
When Relistened: 11th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Melodic Metalcore / Melodic Death Metal [2007]
Weirdly genuinely fucking awesome album hidden amongst a messy run of records. Remember finding it too heavy. Now, spot on. Same could be said for Killswitch and Chimaria, and I guess Machine Head, all of which I found around this time. While I’ve reflected on quite how much my listening habits were driven by others (friends, films, games) this is one of the few instances where I feel a weird sense of agency. Or I’ve just forgotten who/what made me listen to this. Cest la vie. |
| 45 |  | Killswitch Engage
As Daylight Dies
When Relistened: 11th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Melodic Metalcore [2007]
Fuck it, one for the road (Burnout Paradise vibes specifically).
I am now (very) done with the 2007 to 2011 teenage angst era let’s move to a similarly angsty but less embarrassing era soon please? Please!?
Though to be honest the themes of self-medicative sad boi trying to sort sift solve the soup in his brain ain’t going anywhere gah. We’re these the Devil Wears Prada, Woe is Me, Attack Attack, Blackout, Silverstein and Underoath years as well? I can’t remember. |
| 46 |  | The Raconteurs
Consolers of the Lonely
When Relistened: 12th February 2025
When First Listened: 2009 (13yo)
Garage Rock Revival / Blues Rock [2008]
My dad used to be a bigger part of my childhood listening, but I sorta shunned what he liked during the teenage days months years 2008 to maybe 2013 (no Elbow no Pink Floyd no Beethoven please and thanks) BUT this I did like. First jack white, best jack white. |
| 47 |  | Thousand Foot Krutch
The End Is Where We Begin
When Relistened: 12th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Christian Rock [2012]
Not my first TFK (was jamming their 3 album comp with modnation racers earlier) but this is the one I have the fondest memories of. Some truly atrocious cuts here. As in this is the only record on this list so far that I contemplated not finishing. Fucking Jesus man. |
| 48 |  | Green Day
American Idiot
When Relistened: 12th February 2025
When First Listened: 2007 (11yo)
Pop Punk / Rock Opera [2004]
Alright alright alright let’s wrap this up childhood be gone etc. Saw them live Leeds Fest 2013, apart from the very large very wide very hairy individual blocking my sight of the stage, it was excellent. Jamming in car driving through town and asking my mum to keep replaying the title track. Didn’t like any other songs at age 11, but grew into the album with time. Singable to the point of indoctrination is this album in my blood? Have a grey and red vinyl variant. Learnt acoustic covers of Jesus, Holiday, Boulevard, September, Whatshername, t/t and Homecoming. Played it constantly at uni (2014/17). Played it constantly before. Still play it now. Staple of my life. It is an five. |
| 49 |  | My Chemical Romance
The Black Parade
When Relistened: 13th February 2025
When First Listened: 2006 (10yo)
Pop Punk / Rock Opera [2006]
Title track was all over the airways in 2006 played mama in car to gran and she was visibly unenthused teenagers scare the living shit out of me Dead Dead Dead and good hood goodness SLEEP is the unsung hero blood sucks the second most important album of my first 5 years of listening to music number 1 may (not) surprise you… |
| 50 |  | Linkin Park
Hybrid Theory
When Relistened: 13th February 2025
When First Listened: 2007 (11yo)
Number 1 Number 1 Number 1. I mean obviously. Heavy melody melodious screm the boi he pushes the buttons he rap he chugga he groove he soar. When Chester died genuinely the only time an artist death as personally affected me. Played in the car played in art class played everywhere, forever. |
| 51 |  | While She Sleeps
This Is the Six
SIXTH FORM /// YEARS 12 TO 13 /// AGES 16 TO 17 /// A LEVELS /// 2012 TO 2013
When Relistened: 13th February 2025
When First Listened: 2013 (17yo)
Went to Leeds Fest 2013, saw that these guys were playing on the stage I intended to spend the day at, figured I’d jam and holy shit loudest thing I’d ever heard in my life up to that point. Messy messy messy set, riffs flying all over the place, but they killed. Charming little Manchester thumpers. Shame they’ve gone to shit. Still a staple of my running playlist. |
| 52 |  | Frank Turner
Tape Deck Heart
When Relistened: 13th February 2025
When First Listened: 2013 (17yo)
Folk Rock [2013]
First Frank experience also at Leeds Fest 2013, it was raining, but he was great. I’ve spent way too many words on Frank across this website so keeping it brief here. Important artist in my upbringing. First folk adjacent album. |
| 53 |  | The Word Alive
Empire
When Relistened: 14th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Post-Hardcore / Metalcore [2009]
Hold up it’s Valentine’s Day let’s each eat cheeeeeeese. This is good cheese. Remember those iPhone versions of guitar hero games aka adverts for music I am the Guinea Pig and listened to this because they told me to. The Devil Wears Prada core. |
| 54 |  | The Lonely Island
Incredibad
When Relistened: 14th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Comedy Rap [2009]
I Just Had Sex was the funniest thing of all time I mean it still is dick jizz jokes lololololololol. Oddly good hooks on this one. Like A Boss I’m On A Boat We Like SportZ I’m On Shrooms Who Said We’re Wack Dick In A Box Jesus. |
| 55 |  | Lmfao
Sorry For Party Rocking
When Relistened: 14th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Party Rock [2011]
God my taste sucked. |
| 56 |  | Mumford and Sons
Sigh No More
When Relistened: 14th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Folk Pop / Indie Folk [2009]
For what it was, this was great. May have actually beaten out Frank for my first folk anything. My CD had a scratch that meant the end of the last track skipped. I thought it was intentional. Sounded profound enough to me. Strongly associated with my first serious girlfriend who after 2 years dumped me via a note she handed to me before kicking me out of her parents house. I’m not bitter or anything. What.
Artists also dead to me include imagine dragons, bastille and ig Alt-J though get by. |
| 57 |  | Various Artists (Punk)
Punk Goes Pop 2
When Relistened: 15th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Punk? Pop? [2009]
Did my taste get worse? May have got my timelines mixed up. Fearless Records hit a masterstroke of making me listen to half of their artists. My intro to ADTR, Four Year Strong, August Burns Red, Silverstein, a few others. Trash baby album. Still listened to vol 3, 4 and 5. Gah. |
| 58 |  | Less Than Jake
Anthem
When Relistened: 15th February 2025
When First Listened: 2013 (17yo)
Ska Punk / Pop Punk [2003]
Saw them live in Leeds 2013 with Zebrahead and Reel Big Fish with Elliott I borrowed all his CDs is this a recurring theme did I just do what Elliott told me I think so. Great fucking album and gateway into my (at that time) favourite band (not Less Than Jake, different Ska Punk, due to come up at some point below ig). Pez and Converse and Skinny Hoodies. Jammed while writing History A-level essay on why Douglas Hague was a cunt. |
| 59 |  | A Day To Remember
Homesick
When Relistened: 15th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
Easycore [2009]
Yep, definitely got worse. God even at their peak this band were such ass. Closer to be honest still goes, but that's the outlier, in style and quality. Also borrowed Elliott's CD fuck you Elliott. Four Year Strong were the less of these two evils. |
| 60 |  | Various Artists (Electronic)
Monstercat 007 - Solace
When Relistened: 15th February 2025
When First Listened: 2012 (16yo)
EDM [2012]
The Study Jam!!! The Gaming Jam!!! Minecraft and COD and Wubb!!! Easy nibbles of shallow bloops BUT "I Remember" is the best thing ever i swear to mort. Much like 57, had blanked this and the 5 or so other iterations I listened to from my memory bank. Unobjectionable. Music used to be more a thing I used to block out the world, while reading while doing homework while doing anything i guess the world was too loud. Definitely remember watching TV doing algebra and jamming songs simultaneously why was i like that. Another reason why I assumed electronic had less depth and breadth than it does. Jammed alot of Pegboard Nerds, Tristam and Knife Party off the back of this. And KOAN SOUND? Forget what spawned what. |
| 61 |  | Bring Me The Horizon
Sempiternal
When Relistened: 16th February 2025
When First Listened: 2013 (17yo)
Metalcore [2013]
Had been listening to them since their 2008 suicide season stuff, but saw them at Leeds Fest 2013 when they were touring this fucking shit stain / icon (depending on your inclination). I lean towards the latter. Whatshisface vocalist had Dalmatian face paint on. The pit was large. Running playlist mainstay, anthem shoebox, it’s all downhill from here.
Not including them as listens, but also caught New Found Glory, Deftones, Skindred and SOAD at 2013 fest, as well as Frank Turner and Greenday. Great great great lineup for 1 fucking day of the festival. |
| 62 |  | The Story So Far
Under Soil and Dirt
When Relistened: 16th February 2025
When First Listened: 2013 (17yo)
Pop Punk [2011]
Shall we call this the ‘pop punk plus’ era? Whereby the boi jammeth pop punk, of varieties that made him feel old and wise. Weird chord phrasings but still the same damn chords. Hardcore peppered over top of usual sadness sweat and sull. Still enjoy screaming to this. Thank you Elliott. |
| 63 |  | Say Anything
...Is a Real Boy
When Relistened: 16th February 2025
When First Listened: 2013 (17yo)
Pop Punk [2004]
See above. Is a real grown up adolescent man baby now. Another super important album in my pre uni days. Another CD I ripped from Elliott. |
| 64 |  | Streetlight Manifesto
Somewhere in the Between
When Relistened: 17th February 2025
When First Listened: 2013 (17yo)
Ska Punk [2007]
Seeing 58 live prompted me to check more ska punk. Came across the hands that thieve. Rest is history ig. Left for Uni with “would you be impressed?” as my favourite song still gives me goosebumps tbh. Had this album art as my sput profile pic when that was still a thing. Whole discog is magic, as are the Toh Kay acoustic renditions, as are Catch 22. Great batch of humans. Most important pre uni band, with Frank. Make more plastic discs please. |
| 65 |  | The Hotelier
Home, Like NoPlace Is There
UNIVERSITY /// AGES 18 TO 21 /// 2014 TO 2017
When Relistened: 17th February 2025
When First Listened: 2014 (18yo)
Emo [2014]
THE ALBUM i packed up my bags with and went off to be an grown up. fucker ELLIOTT again rec’d in car park waiting to be picked up after a Four Year Strong gig. If 64 are one of the most important artists to my upbringing, 65 is in the top 2 most important singular albums. Had it with me when I left home. Had it when my first proper relationship imploded a year later. Had it house hunting in autum of second year. Had it when grandad died two years later. Music that seeped into bones. Layering words atop that feeling doesn’t really do it. This is the album. The fucking album. There are no others. |
| 66 |  | Enter Shikari
The Mindsweep
When Relistened: 17th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Post-Hardcore [2015]
Have vivid memories jamming this come off train in rain and heading to uni, but the year this came out suggests it must have been second year not first. unless it was second term? idk memories suck. Band that skimmed across all of my listening periods. Common Dreads was a 2009 jam. Flash flood was the 2012 boogie. Mindsweep was the home away from home. The Spark was postgrad anthems. Nothing is True the Covid jam. Also rec’d by Elliott I owe him many beers.
Consistently forget how hard this goes. Dear Future Historians top 10 ES? |
| 67 |  | The Wonder Years
The Greatest Generation
When Relistened: 17th February 2025
When First Listened: 2014 (18yo)
Emo-Pop / Pop Punk [2013]
Sat on park bench opposite uni halls, term 1? week 1? very early days feeling lost and cut off and without the familiar and gosh it’s a big jump they make you do, don’t it? Things eased up after the first three months this I clung onto for dear life.
I'm making out like I abandoned 64 and above at the drop of the hat of uni but NO SIR most days MCR AMERICANIDIOT FRANK FRANK FRANK STREETLIGHT RISE AGAINST were the tunes.
Still not found sput yet. |
| 68 |  | Brand New
The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
When Relistened: 17th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Indie Rock / Emo [2006]
A year later I found sput.
The same album as 67, but for second year. Renting house share, frosty walk morning to lectures, exam season cramming cramming cramming, grocery shopping, in between cue card flick throughs, jamming constantly. The fucking hooks brother they’ll melt your face. Pretty sure I joined sput end of first year of uni beginning of second and got swept up in the million gushing reviews by bold red text people. Sputnikmusic membership scars earned ig. |
| 69 |  | American Football
American Football
When Relistened: 18th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Midwest Emo [1999]
Yes yes yes I had a phase what of it. More cold morning walks, second year, mild love loss, which I replicated this morning, quick jam and a stroll, sans love loss. Album remains toasty. Empire Empire was the next fix, then Snowing and Capn, then the whole revival period, it was a happy sad happy sad. Sput chats with con, blush and the gang. Sput sinking its hooks emo revival bubbling away and the oldie goodies surfacing. |
| 70 |  | TotorRo
Home Alone
When Relistened: 18th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Math Rock / Post Rock [2014]
My first (second?) sput review following my French math rock phase involving exclusively this band and album. Le staple study jam. Discovered via YT recs. Bought the vinyl. Got a record player. Jammed in house share. |
| 71 |  | Against Me!
Crime as Forgiven By
When Relistened: 18th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Folk Punk [2001]
Had an AJJ fixation again due to large bold red letters, which morphed into a love of this and the other classic Against Me EP. This I find more visceral sloppy sincere manic deranged hopeful fucked. Both glorious screaming 5s.
Memories being driven around in uni breaks coming back from cinema. |
| 72 |  | The Front Bottoms
The Front Bottoms
When Relistened: 18th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Folk Punk / Emo / Indie [2011]
The whiniest album the whiniest band and I love them both. Flashlight (you know the bit) still the best thing ever. Thumping dumb unashamedly crying in public cringing in public twang those two strings forever and ever and ever.
Memories jamming cramming for second year exams with 68. |
| 73 |  | Pinegrove
Cardinal
When Relistened: 19th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Alt Country / Emo [2016]
Sublime nugget of a record. Penmanship, vibe, Size of the Moon is better than the moon. Fully ingrained in the school of sput by this point, horizons broadened by receiving recs from people who weren’t Elliott. Lying in bed lights off chilling, reading through lyrics, redeveloping what I thought was my taste, but I mean is there such a thing the sea takes us where it takes us. |
| 74 |  | Car Seat Headrest
Teens of Denial
When Relistened: 19th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Indie Rock / Garage Rock [2016]
Much of what I’ve written for 73 applies here. Falling apart at seems, seams, doing what sput be doing, attempting to grow up, not really growing up. Staying up later than sensible, jamming jams. That's what I'm doing right now. Oh the times they arent a changing. |
| 75 |  | Vektor
Black Future
When Relistened: 19th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Tech Thrash [2009]
Used this as a carrot. 1 hour of cramming for second year finals. 15 minutes of vektor. 1 hour of thinking. 15 minutes of m/. Outlier. |
| 76 |  | Sun Kil Moon
Benji
When Relistened: 19th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Singer-Songwriter [2014]
He's a goof but the dread still oozes in black splutters.
Finally watched Spider-Man no way home or whatever the third one is called because my partner is away with work she can’t stand the marvel films so now is my chance(!) and feeling nostalgic and sad for all the paper wafer fluff of some films in the saga they nail their big arc set pieces for sure. |
| 77 |  | Regina Spektor
Soviet Kitsch
When Relistened: 20th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Singer-Songwriter / Anti/Chamber Folk [2004]
If this list is about anything (it isn’t) it’s about albums being as much the time place and people you heard them with as it is the actual album. Was in a sput listening party with porc, flug, sint(?) and sounds, sounds or sint put on a Regina song, pretty sure it was sounds, I’d never heard vox quite like hers before (still haven’t) was like hey man that’s cool what’s her best album? Jammed this again late night summer holiday year 2? 3? loved it felt more connected with the world and stuff. |
| 78 |  | Converge
Jane Doe
When Relistened: 20th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Metalcore [2001]
Finished second year exams, went to Tesco, bought the most alcohol-to-money efficient red wine, drank and played my freshly opened copy of Overwatch. Rinsed and repeated most days for a week, maybe two, interspersed with sport and the occasional jam. This was one of them. Found it too much. Then went on a 2 week internship where I eventually got the job I have now, jammed this in the evenings, still didn’t get it. Eventually though the pieces found their places. Most scrobbled band. Best band. Screm. |
| 79 |  | Bon Iver
For Emma, Forever Ago
When Relistened: 21st February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Indie Folk [2007]
Another nugget from my internship jams. Blush 5’d it. I was curious. Didn’t really get it. Then jammed repeatedly for 3 years for reasons beyond my fathoming and now it’s the best thing. |
| 80 |  | Infected Mushroom
Converting Vegetarians II
When Relistened: 21st February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Psybient [2015]
No fucking clue how I came upon this. Maybe monstercat, or Koan Sound, who are homaged on this. Idk. Fucking huge album study jam second year exams. Am still confused why I found this. |
| 81 |  | Death Grips
The Money Store
When Relistened: 21st February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Industrial Hip Hop [2012]
Second year uni was also the year I listened to what the melon told me to. I don’t do that anymore. Some gems from him though. This, Refused? Neutral Milk Hotel which I'll fucking get to dont worry. Kendrick, maybe Death (though I think that was as much Sput as anything), post-rock (we'll get to that). Him and Deep Cuts did alot to guide my exploration I think he gets teased too much because of the terminally online angst aura he gives off but he's done alot of good alot of horizon broadening for alot of sheltered pups like ME that needed more gateways to more musics. He was ig the wakeup call of OH GOSH you dont just need to stick to your lane the stuff you grew up on and your friends like you should try everything everything everything everything everything everything everything everything everything everything everything everything everything everything, forever. |
| 82 |  | Ween
The Mollusk
When Relistened: 21st February 2025
When First Listened: 2017 (21yo)
Neo-Psych / Art Rock [1997]
Also jammed what Ars told me to. Shoutbox mandates for the un-ween'd. This and their debut are the ones that stuck. Honestly aged brilliantly. Bumped that Mr Bungle too. |
| 83 |  | Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven
When Relistened: 22nd February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Post-Rock / Drone / Ambient [2000]
Another slice from the melon. Thought it was the most insane thing ever the track lengths the build the release hated the drone-lite stuff but now older and wiser and realize that the space between the BOOMs is where the magic is actually brewed. Beginning of Storm is peak. Coming around to the view that Sleep > from a flow perspective. As natural as breathing, listening to this.
Also had an Explosions, Talk Talk and pg.lost phase. Bit of Slint too. Started with this. |
| 84 |  | The Dear Hunter
The Color Spectrum (Complete Collection)
When Relistened: 22nd February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Indie Rock [2011]
Another big boi that I was enamored with primarily for its bigness (how novel). Trite pudding with a side of trite pie but but but green, blue, purple all be doing the good things still. Just a lot of crust (unnecessary) to trim. Hook city though.
A tangent: looking through my rating timings and posterity lists of the past, my favorite records barely changed from my top 100 in 2017 (https://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?listid=176789&memberid=1064844) to my top 40 in 2020 (https://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?listid=193948&memberid=1064844). I did my Classic's rec list in August 2017 to May 2018 (https://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?listid=176865&memberid=1064844) after the 100 ranking which seemed not to displace the top 40 all that much. Started properly re-exploring in 2023, then 2024, so proper big gap in horizon broadening 2017/8 to then, so 5 to 6 years. Kind of mad. No wonder I hold so many albums i heard in this period so close to my heart; they're all i heard for years and years and years. |
| 85 |  | NAILS
Abandon All Life
When Relistened: 23rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2018 (22yo)
Grindcore / pv [2013]
A quickie after two biggies. Got into NAILS around 2016 and you will never be etc which (again) i think MELON put me on to. Ended up jamming through their discog a few summers later (didnt take long) and settled on this as my favourite. Also did a ETID deep dive, some Orchid, Knocked Loose, Left Behind, Frontierer, Meshuggah, Car Bomb, Admiral Angry, Piggy D, more Converge, anything thick fuzzy and loud. Was a mainstay lazy staple of my music exploration 2016 to 2022 (i like loud core let us hear more loud core) along with folk as my other go to, established (clearly) by the uni period ... just realised i havent done my folk phase yet hold up.
Also: aside: I have the vinyl box set of 84 and each EP matches the colour of the EP it’s sick. |
| 86 |  | Spiritualized
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
When Relistened: 23rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Space Rock Revival / Gospel Rock / Neo Psych [1997]
On the theme of listen to what you’re damn told to: Spiritualized. Pretty sure I got wiffs of the need to jam from boney, Zak, or doof, I forget who. Same goes for The National and Sunhouse. Dusty, sad, saucey, essential. Played to my dad in the car driving to a (get this) Elbow concert. Full circle circles. |
| 87 |  | Clever Girl
No Drum And Bass in the Jazz Room
When Relistened: 23rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Math / Jazz Rock [2010]
Final year of uni / post-grad summer vibes. Also circling the drain of brass, and tried more straight jazz via Art Blakey and Ryo Fukui. Flirted with Miles' Kind of Blue and Silent Way, and Love Supreme for the classics list. Makes sense i made my way back almost 10 years later. Jazz >>>> but also the major key simplicity here is yum. |
| 88 |  | Captain, We're Sinking
The Future Is Cancelled
When Relistened: 23rd February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Pop Punk / Emo [2013]
Gosh there is an abundance of sad white male guitar music here uuuuuuhhh. Warm memories of this, Snowing, PUP, Frightened Rabbit, Smith Street Band, Pixies, Modest Mouse, and all those other sing song sad thumpers. Idk growing up is a thing my brain didn’t function in healthy ways probably because my unis drinking culture was fucked, my mental health was ehhh, let’s just not go there but the thing was music as a magic cure all, primary use, lifestyle crutch, always has been, always will, but less so now. Phew and such.
Fucking sublime album. |
| 89 |  | The Antlers
Hospice
When Relistened: 24th February 2025
When First Listened: 2015 (19yo)
Indie Rock [2009]
Walking around town, cold, numb, fucked. That postal service that wide awake it’s morning that elliott smith. Quiet, regular, dread.
Bumping AnCo for this - retried strawberry jam, another important album in the books, but wasn’t tickling my pickle correctly. |
| 90 |  | Bruce Springsteen
Born to Run
When Relistened: 24th February 2025
When First Listened: 2017 (21yo)
Heartland Rock [1975]
The album that got me over my aversion to quote old music. Fucking love you brucey. Rec’d by ash. Can’t be sad when you have this pumping through your system. |
| 91 |  | Ghost Mice
All We Got Is Each Other
When Relistened: 24th February 2025
When First Listened: 2017 (21yo)
Folk Punk [2012]
And we’re back to death again. Was I morbid? See review ig. The candid, rambling, pencil scribble that is this album, graphite and chalk and blood, transcends. |
| 92 |  | Jordaan Mason and The Horse Museum
Divorce Lawyers I Shaved My Head
When Relistened: 24th February 2025
When First Listened: 2017 (21yo)
Indie Folk [2009]
In third year I thought I had depersonalisation. Tbh I think I was just growing up. Identity crisis is part and parcel. Losing friends, losing perspective, losing the fucking plot. Divorce lawyers i shaved my head. Sandwich rec in line with my NMH infatuation. Important to me in a way (and to a degree) that I’d forgotten. |
| 93 |  | Sufjan Stevens
Carrie and Lowell
When Relistened: 25th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Indie Folk [2015]
Spain winding country roads after sunset streetlamp reflection of car window. Familiar and played to fuck in a way that feels worn, faded, I can’t remember how I used to feel about this, just that I revisited a lot. Death and folk and death and folk and |
| 94 |  | Mount Eerie
A Crow Looked at Me
When Relistened: 25th February 2025
When First Listened: 2017 (21yo)
Indie Folk [2017]
Pretty sure this is only the third time I’ve heard this album. First time it was when I was packing up my uni room in third year, remember getting to Ravens and having to sit down. The things that the mind clings to, the things that remain, the things that matter, it’s weird, and there’s no end. |
| 95 |  | Talk Talk
Laughing Stock
When Relistened: 26th February 2025
When First Listened: 2018 (22yo)
Post Rock / Art Rock [1991]
Geez 94 really overwhelmed me yesterday. There’s something about that particular album. There’s also something about everything Phil has ever done. It’s all so earnest and genuine and ornate and weird and him. His medium-less-ness, the way the person flows right through the art, the celebration of nature and the simple things, gah.
This album does that too! It’s the magic, the pulse, the breath, the breadth, tree sway waves sway he sway she sway. Jammed as part of my REC ME CLASSICS list, the thing I did immediately after leaving uni to try genuinely broaden horizons, but (with hindsight) bit off way more than I could chew and didn’t do half the albums listened to justice. This I at least got right. And Pixies. And XO. And Fleetwood. |
| 96 |  | The Menzingers
On the Impossible Past
When Relistened: 26th February 2025
When First Listened: 2017 (21yo)
Pop Punk / Punk Related Rock and Such [2012]
Taking a step back: third year uni, this, me, Overwatch, a crate of 1664, a mate, and lots of screaming, mostly at the game, occasionally singing along. Drinking buddy: the album.
Also had a death metal phase, dad rock phase, ambient phase, psych phase and probably some more but we don’t have time for those let’s stick to my lane and be sad with guitar.
There was also skramz which for some reason I have largely skirted around. Orchid and pg.99 were the things. |
| 97 |  | Julien Baker
Sprained Ankle
When Relistened: 26th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Indie Folk [2015]
Listened to (again) because blush 5’d it and blush is bae. Con was also a fan, neek too, maybe sounds, boney, I forget who was part of the original hype party for this on sput, but we were there and we listened and it was good. Remains the only essential thing she’s worked on, The Lights was important to me for other reasons, but the music here still radiates. Bubbles with walking home in streetlight, smoke tendril sentries, centuries of trying to be better. |
| 98 |  | The Tallest Man on Earth
The Wild Hunt
When Relistened: 27th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Folk / Singer-Songwriter / Bluegrass [2010]
Listened to for the first time on a sun bed in spain and ducking shucking wucking hated it. Screeeee nasal vox awful prod and cluttered presentation, 2.5d it with anger, noooooo idea how it later became my favourite album, but it did! Became obsessed, the whole foggy sun drenched thing, the noddles the words the passion and vigour and love. I fell out of love a year or so ago, preferring shallow grave, but rejamming now I am so back. Proper nostalgia core. It’s the lack of filter. This was kristian and he strum and he sung. It’s that simple. |
| 99 |  | The Microphones
The Glow Pt. 2
When Relistened: 27th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Indie Folk [2001]
An album I heard the same Spain trip as 98. Almost mystical, the presence and impact, revere, it staggered (me), my first experience of (good) spatialisation, sporadic prod, the goof, the seriousness, the fuzz, the joy. The start of an unhealthy parasocial relationship, I still properly Stan for Phil. Again, as per 94, it’s the unadulterated childish glee preserved in the creative spirit that burbles throughout this and his whole catalog, even the sadder passages, of doing art because you have no choice but to, of expression because you’d cease to be if you didn’t. Absolute fucking legend. |
| 100 |  | Radiohead
OK Computer
When Relistened: 28th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Alt Rock / England [1997]
I was so fucking ready rolled up sleeves keys in ignition PUMPED to put In Rainbows here, my fave Radiohead, jammed state side on final vacation before securing gainful employment, but then stumbled back across this, the Radiohead I regard myself as having “grown out of”, the one I first heard that same summer as 98 and 99, my first Radiohead, and fuck my teeth in doesn’t it age well?! Dated but in all the right ways. How I forgot Radiohead used to write STOMPERS (Electioneering!!!!!!!!). Finding the unspoken dread more appealing than ever. I guess this is growing up indeed. |
| 101 |  | Neutral Milk Hotel
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
When Relistened: 28th February 2025
When First Listened: 2016 (20yo)
Indie Folk [1998]
Eternally perfect. I’ve listened to this more times than anything WHY DOESNT IT GET OLD the goose the bumps the fucking magic and mayhem and grief. First tried blasted from laptop speakers end of year 2, between Overwatch and red wine sessions, and I’ve never let go since. Played with gf everywhere and anywhere. Blasted through car speakers driving too fast. And I still can’t explain it. Evocative of something and nothing at all. If anything is my favourite album it is this. |
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