693. Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Red Hot Chili Peppers
1991

Tracks
1. Power Of Equality
2. If You Have To Ask
3. Breaking The Girl
4. Funky Monks
5. Suck My Kiss
6. I Could Have Lied
7. Mellowship Slinky In B Major
8. Righteous And The Wicked
9. Give It Away
10. Blood Sugar Sex Magik
11. Under The Bridge
12. Naked In The Rain
13. Apache Rose Peacock
14. Greeting Song
15. My Lovely Man
16. Sir Psycho Sexy
17. They're Red Hot

I feel like you would be hard pressed to find somebody who couldn't find at least one thing to like about this album. It seems like an album composed for the masses, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

It's pretty standard rock fare, complete with suggestive lyrics and good beats. It's like they took the hard rock sounds of Aerosmith and The Rolling Stones and put a 90s stamp on it. It's maybe not something I want to revisit over and over again, but it still feels like the quintessential American rock album.

So obviously not as interesting as your Bjork or Kate Bush albums, but a very good album nonetheless. 

RATING: 4/5

637. Let Love Rule

Let Love Rule
Lenny Kravitz
1989

Tracks
1. Sittin' On Top Of The World
2. Let Love Rule
3. Freedom Train
4. My Precious Love
5. I Build This Garden For Us
6. Fear
7. Does Anybody Out There Even Care
8. Mr Cab Driver
9. Rosemary
10. Be
11. Blues For Sister Someone
12. Empty Hands
13. Flower Child

This is another album/artist that I had never heard of. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of those times where I'm delighted the List introduced us. Instead, this will probably be one of the entries I have trouble recalling in a week. 

The two stars are for the lyrical quality, and I particularly enjoyed Mr. Cab Driver for its commentary. But the other songs were literally preachy, and overall I didn't feel like he was doing anything too interesting here.

So far 1989 is a pretty meh year. I hope something comes along soon to shake things up.

RATING: 2/5

614. Truth and Soul

Truth and Soul
Fishbone
1988

Tracks
1. Freddie's Dead
2. Ma and Pa
3. Question of Life
4. Pouring Rain
5. Deep Inside
6. Mighty Long Way
7. Bonin' in the Boneyard
8. One Day
9. Subliminal Fascism
10. Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party)
11. Ghetto Soundwave
12. Change

I listened to this album yesterday but didn't get a chance to get in here and jot down my thoughts. In my opinion, this album was just okay, so it's already starting to fade from my memory a bit.

That's not to say there weren't some good tracks on the album, with "Ma and Pa" in particular standing out. I thought it was interesting they were able to blend so many genres at once. 

So maybe they laid the groundwork for some upcoming bands, but it didn't feel like an earth-shattering experience and could probably be skipped.

RATING: 3/5

610. The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby

The Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby
Trent D'Arby
1987

Tracks
1. If You All Get To Heaven
2. If You Let Me Stay
3. Wishing Well
4. I'll Never Turn My Back On You (Father's Words)
5. Dance Little Sister
6. Seven More Days
7. Let's Go Forward
8. Rain
9. Sign Your Name
10. As Yet Untitled
11. Who's Lovin' You

Where has this guy been hiding? I had never heard of Terence Trent D'Arby, and I guess he is going by a different stage name now (Sananda Francesco Maitreya). He changed his moniker in 1995 after a series of dreams. He thought it meant rebirth in Sanskrit, but it actually means possessed of happiness/loving. As far as mistranslations go, that could have been a lot worse.

Trent D'Arby has the range of Michael Jackson, without all the annoying vocal tics that come along with that voice. I got a very strong Sam Cooke vibe from these tracks, which is always welcome. 

What makes it even more impressive is that Trent D'Arby was only 24 when he made this. Damn.

RATING: 4/5

582. I Against I

I Against I
Bad Brains
1986

Tracks
1. Intro
2. I Against I
3. House Of Suffering
4. Re-Ignition
5. Secret 77
6. Let Me Help
7. She's Calling You
8. Sacred Love
9. Hired Gun
10. Return To Heaven

If you take two genres and mash them together, however ill-fitting they might be, the List is probably going to reward you for your efforts just for standing out so much (remember the bongos anybody?). I Against I attempts to blend reggae, funk, punk, and metal, which is a surefire way to earn a salute from the Powers That Be.

Surprisingly, this actually wasn't so bad, and wasn't half as jarring as I expected it to be. I enjoyed "Let Me Help" and "Sacred Love" was a jam. That being said, the novelty of this mishmash of genres wears off quickly, and the novelty is the best thing this album has going for it.

Oh, and happy April! Did you ever think March would end?

RATING: 2/5