Inspired by a thing I saw on Reddit earlier today, I’m going to try listening to more complete albums this year. Maybe daily? We’ll see how it shakes out.
I’ve adored the glorious rock madness of opening track “Hocus Pocus” ever since @reasie introduced me to it while helping out with one of my first on-air slots at WRUW, but I’m ashamed to admit it’s taken me nearly 30 years to finally listen to the rest of the album. Friends… I should not have waited.
If I’ve timed this right, “Monday” should start right about midnight. Also, this album still rules, and it’s really fun with headphones on. Don’t think I’ll ever get enough of “Halcyon + On + On”. Also: Star Trek samples, if that’s your jam!
#AnAlbumADay 125/366: Unforseen Consequences by Morch Kovalski
Apparently futuresynthy covers of Half Life and Black Mesa soundtracks? I dunno, I did Portal but not Half Life. Anyway, this is cool; dark, driving, has a good edge to it. Satisfying listening for my post-D&D nightcap.
#AnAlbumADay 126/366: The Velvet Machine by Neal Acree
Meant to post this for Sunday. My friends who dig cinematic synthy instrumental stuff will love this, I think. I stumbled onto it by accident—turns out Acree has a TON of cool soundtrack credits (Stargate SG1, Vox Machina, WoW, Diablo 3, more), and this is his first solo album.
Doing this alphabet game with my album picks sometimes pushes me to try artists that I’m completely unfamiliar with; today is one of those days. I’m a couple tracks in and it seems all right — a mid 90s dance sound that I definitely harbor nostalgic affection for.
#AnAlbumADay 130/366: Zenyatta Mondatta by The Police
I think “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” is the only thing I’ve ever heard off of this one; it was certainly inescapable on the radio and MTV. Time to see if there’s anything else interesting here…
#AnAlbumADay 131/366: The Dimension Gate by Aurora Sutra
I waffled a bit about what to pick today as I get back to alpha-by-artist, but after seeing an actual aurora tonight… Yeah. Had to do it.
I haven’t listened to this in a long time, but I remember I really dug the instrumental elements suite in the back half, and the third track, “The Garden of Temptation”, was on a cool sampler from Cleopatra Records that helped expand my tastes.
I’ve had this sitting in my library forever (because I’m mildly obsessed with “Duvet”, AKA “the song from Serial Experiments Lain”) but somehow had never heard the whole thing. I was a fool! This is really good.
More catch up; I think this is technically Monday’s pick.
I bought a greatest hits collection way back in high school and just… never listened to the actual Devo albums, even though I really liked their stuff? Not sure why that happened, so I’m fixing that now.
I am very familiar with a few of the inescapable hit singles that got immense radio play in my youth, but I’ve never sat down with a full Eurythmics album, and I doubt I’ve heard anything from this, their debut, at all. Hopefully it’ll be interesting!
#AnAlbumADay 138/366: Doctor Who Theme Collection Vol 1 by HardWire
I’m enjoying the latest run of Doctor Who; last night’s new episode put me in the mood for this lovely collection of different interpretations of the classic theme music. (This continues the trend of pleasant coincidences I’ve found with this “alphabet game” format.)
I’ve loved a handful of Ivy’s songs for a long time, but have for some reason never explored beyond those few. I’m glad to be remedying that tonight. Also, “Edge of the Ocean” is as perfect a track as ever.