Random CD Draw 9

Mastodon, Crack the Skye (2009) 😀

I must be in a metal mood for Christmas because I left this in my CD player for awhile. Like Rush Mastodon is a band that's elevated to the next level by an incredible drummer

Main: The Ophelias - "Salome"

Bonuses:
Baianasystem - "Balacobaco"
Messa - "At Races"

Random CD Draw 8

Wondermints, s/t (1995) 😀

L.A. power pop sophisticated enough to tentatively recommend to power pop skeptics; more Brian Wilson/Zombies than Raspberries/Knack et al.

Random CD Draw 7

Various Artists, Rockabilly Dance Party (1999) 😀

Not sure how easy this is to find now, but it's a good 2nd step comp for those interested in digging a little deeper into the genre but don't need a box set. Nice mix of cult favorite artists & more obscure tracks from big names

I'm dying at Taylor Swift's signature drink tasting like "a Cosmo someone strained through a French Vanilla Yankee candle" & having a sparkly novelty fire element

I suggested elsewhere that she was doing the liar's dance of feigning some candor to seem authentic when she tells the huge whoppers, but after reading this I think you're closer as to what's going on here. I buy that she got too comfy & thought she was humanizing him & herself in the moment

She's doing the standard liar's trick of feigning candor about some gossipy low stakes stuff to try to soften up readers to swallow bigger lies

Random CD Draw, Day 6

Los Lobos, Kiko (1992) 👍

Sprawling, eclectic roots rock, I thought "this is a good road trip album" as I puttered around running errands. I liked the rockabilly & Latin tracks best.

The only time starving him of attention may have worked was 2015/6. Too late now. I can't think of an exercise more pointless than trying to browbeat normal posters into behaving like bloodless strategists 24/7. Same energy as centrist-y types trying to browbeat libs into never being annoying online

Random CD Draw / @bestalbumbrackets.bsky.social 2001 prep crossover

Halfcocked, The Last Star 👍

I remember being disappointed in this album because I was expecting something more like what The Darkness would eventually do but found it more generically pop punky. Liked it alright on the revisit

Random CD Draw Day 4

Die Toten Hosen - Love, Peace & Money (1995)👍

Pop punk but not the kind that was fashionable in the U.S. in '95. This is shout along Sham 69 style with shades of Slade, cheap hair metal, & more muscular 80s alternative. Some lame songs & dubious lyrics but I still kinda dig it

Random CD Draw, Day 3

The Aquanettas, Roadhaus (1993) 👎

EP that can be skipped for their '90 debut of droll guitar pop I unsucessfuly nominated for that Best Album tournament. (1st & last tracks are awful; singer strains past her range & musicians try messy, vaguely Brit coded neo psych jamming)

Random CD Draw, Day 2

Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic (1975) 😀

The (great) singles have been played into the ground & it closes with a wimpy ballad that's no "Dream On", but I love these warm & dirty 70s guitar tones, and covering a silly old King Records jump blues panders to me specifically

Random CD Draw, Day 1

Gun Club, Mother Juno (1987) 👍

Goth tinged college rock + jangly Americana ala Guadalcanal Diary; traces of their psychobilly/blues punk roots remain in the rhythms. I think I put "Thunderhead" on some mixes back in the day.

I can see it either way, so I voted selfishly for 2002. I'll be annoyed if YHF beats the most likely contenders for 2001. I'm fine with it beating the most likely contenders for 2002 and it fits in more sonically with them.

Actually I believe the answer she gave was accidentally honest. It gave an impression of a person deep up her own ass in self pity & her personal relationship drama. I think it is possible that going public prior to the hearings never even occurred to her.

A lot of mediocre albums I listen to multiple times to try to decide if I like them or not end up on these lists for me