Middle-aged Dan

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Album #149

Steely Dan - Countdown to ecstasy

I feel the same way about this as some people do about Tubular Bells. Just because you can play all sorts of instruments doesn't mean you always should. It comes across as self indulgent and leads to boring songs.

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Yeah that is a bit weird. I actually like the rest of that song, just not the speak-rap but.

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Placebo - Black Market Music

Rarely has an album grown on me like this. When I first bought this 25 years ago I really didn't like it. Can't even remember why, just didn't click

But all these years later, it has become one of my favourite Placebo albums.

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Evening Richard

My #5DebutAlbums0509 choices are:

1) Grinderman - self titled
2) Florence + the Machine - Lungs
3) Arctic Monkeys - Whatever people say I am, that's what I'm not.
4) Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
5) MGMT - Orangula Spectacular

S/Ms to LCT Soundsystem, Fleet Foxes, The XX, and MIA

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Album #148
Kate Bush - The sensual world

In 1989 The Cure created my favourite album ever. But Robert Smith called this album the highlight of his year. To me, that is one hell of an endorsement.

'This Woman's Work, is Bush at her haunting best.
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With today being voting day, it's time for a relisten-off to narrow down 5 remaining contenders for the final 2 places on my #5DebutAlbums0509 list.

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LCD Soundsystem - self titled
Fleet Foxes - self titled
The XX - XX
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
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Excellent result mate.

Today's #AlphabettiDischetti

Jarv Is - Beyond the Pale

Cocker's best non-Pulp work. Always loved Cocker's grimy sexy alter ego on some songs and it comes out in spades in this work, even when he's singing about whales.

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Album #147

Thundercat - Drunk

With the exception of my obsession with Sparks, this is the most wonderfully quirky album I have heard in some time.
Loads of whimsical little ditties and longer songs. Funny, occasionally thought provoking, but musically strong.
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Saved my favourite #5DebutAlbums0509 till last

Grinderman - self titled

Nick Cave and co's side project that returns to their Birthday Party raw and challenging routes.
With 30 more years of musical experience, and the added Warren Ellis influence, it is an excellent potent mix.

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Last night's #AlphabettiDischetti

James - Be opened by the wonderful

Absolutely beautiful orchestrated career retrospective. Not a one off concert but a properly produced studio album.

The arrangements are gorgeous, so much effort has gone into the rewrites.

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Album #146

Credence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country

This style of American rock is not my natural preference but CCR seem incapable of writing a bad song. A fact born out by them having 3 albums on the list from a one-year period.

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Today's #5DebutAlbums0509 pick

Arctic Monkey - Whatever people say I am, that's what I'm not.

Always reminds me of my honeymoon. we played it all the time in the car. As South Yorkshire residents, we especially loved the local references. Quality album, extra special for the locals.

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And on the album gets a reprise as well.

Tonight's #AlphabettiDischetti
Oasis - Be here now.

Bought this with nostalgic rose-tinted glasses but to be honest this hasn't aged well. A few good songs, but it is bloated by some sub par, self indulgent tracks.

If this was a random band, it wouldn't be remembered.

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Sparks - Hippopotamus 🦛

Little upbeat lunchtime pick-me-up.

Their first out and out studio album in nearly a decade and their start of their great run of albums in Ron's 70s.

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Tonight's #AlphabettiDischetti

Meat Loaf - Bat out of hell

One of those albums that is part of the essential vinyl starter pack, and at 43 million copies sold it isn't hard to find. A failed musical score that instead made a killer album. The rest is history.

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Album #145
Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Think I have listened to this album more than any other in my life due to it being my go to tape as a teen with a paper round and the fact it remains in my top 5 to this day.

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#AlphabettiDischetti
Brian May -Back to the light

Bit of a nostalgia buy this one. My Dad had it on CD so when it was £9 new I snapped it up.
A bit feast or famine. The strong songs are really good, but the rest is basic filler. Worth an annual revisit though.
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Today's #AlphabettiDischetti:

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Great album that essentially opened up a new avenue for female British soul singers that wasn't there before.

Amazing voice and talent. Still seems to be the crowning achievement of the genre.

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Another really enjoyable #5DebutAlbums0509 find.

MGMT - Oracular spectacular

Another one of them albums/bands that I wouldn't recognise by name but have enjoyed many of the songs on this when I've stumbled across them over the years.

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Album #144

Lou Reed - Berlin

Was surprised to read that this follow up to the peerless Transformer was not well recieved at the time. But now it is getting the recognition it deserves as a great album.
Impressively keeps its narrative arc the whole way.

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That would be cool to be fair.

Last of the A's for #AlphabettiDischetti today

REM - Automatic for the People

Pretty close to the perfect album. 5 excellent singles (Nightswimming is an all-timer for me) and all the album tracks add brilliantly to the overall almost haunting feel.

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Today's #5DebutAlbums0509 choice:

LCD Soundsystem - self titled

Feels completely unique in terms of these debut choices. But to be fair, all their albums do.
Genre bending greatness from a band who seem incapable of misjudging any style

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Album #143 (redux)

Throwing Muses - self titled (1986)

Turns out I listened to the wrong one of the two self titled Throwing Muses albums yesterday. But they are both really good so I'm not too fussed.
This one is a more raw post punk sound.

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Tonight's #AlphabettiDischetti is a personal favourite:

Counting Crows - August and everything after

There are plenty of albums I consider objectively better than this. But there are very few I sing along to every word of like I do this one.

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Album #143

Throwing Muses - self titled (2003)

Great but all-too-fleetinf return of the 80s and 90s alt rockers. It is amazing how fresh it sounds both 22 years after their debut and 23 years later now. Manage to sound like a young breakthrough band.

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#5DebutAlbums0509

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

Strong contender. Didn't realise how many of these songs I actually knew without knowing they were Bloc Party. For an album to have that much cultural influence is definitely impressive.

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PJ Harvey - 4 Track Demos

I love the PJ Harvey demo albums for their raw sound. And the demos of her most raw and aggressive studio album take it even further. The other track are a treat as well.

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