JANUARY
2026 Album Challenge (Home Link)
Kicking off the challenge with a few favorites that I grew up listening to through my dad and his vinyl collection, which I have inherited. I have taken recommendations from friends, and I will definitely be getting to those as I move along throughout the year. Any photos I include will be plucked from the web unless I signal otherwise.
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
Format: Vinyl (original)
Stereo
Notes: One of my favorite albums ever and I inherited this record from my dad. He played it a lot when I was a child, but the record has been taken care of and still sounds fantastic after all the decades that have passed. I have this on several formats including Atmos/5.1, so it's an album I go back to frequently.
Bob Marley - Rastaman Vibration
Format: Vinyl (original)
Fiio FT1 Headphones
Notes: Another album that was steeped into my psyche at a young age and the draw to it has never gone away. Great melodies and themes. Many prefer "Exodus" or "Catch A Fire", but this one is the Marley album I listen to multiple times a year.
The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me
Format: Vinyl (original)
Fiio FT1 Headphones
Notes: An album I am very familiar with. A friend (Brian) insisted this one on me back in high school. Once I caught on, it expanded my musical tastes to a new direction. My favorite record from The Replacements, although the Ed Stasium Mix of "Tim" has really elevated that record for me.
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Format: Apple Music
Sony XM3 Headphones
Recommendation: Larry
Notes: I have heard several of the songs previous to the listen, but this is my first time listening to the album. I was pleasantly surprised by the eclectic nature. I enjoyed it, with "Rats", "Go", and "WMA" being highlights for me. Will I ever listen to it as a whole again? Probably. Really good rock album.
R.E.M. - Green
Format: CD
Stereo
Notes: The first REM album I've ever listened to. Turned on to it by my cousin Chris. Although it's not my favorite by them, I really do enjoy it. REM is going to be one of those bands that enjoys a resurrection at some point. They seem a bit lost on the recent generation, but the music is too good not to merit a rediscovery. "I Remember California", "World Leader Pretend", and "Orange Crush" are my favorites among an album full of fantastic songs.
Cliff Cody - Shipwreck
Format: Apple Music
AirPods 2
Recommendation: Chuck
Notes: Listened to this on the advice of my friend Chuck. He's a Jimmy Buffett fan and knows I am and thought this might interest me. Solid record. Very much in the spirit of Buffett, especially his mid to later albums. I don't know if anyone can be the icon that JB was in the genre he basically invented, but I love that there are singer/songwriters out there making an attempt. This is "good time" music, something to chill and vibe out to. If you are lost in thought with a beer or margarita, you can bet Cliff Cody will help you along your way. Highlights include "Keeping It Low Key" and "Rest In Paradise".
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill
Stereo
Notes: An old favorite. The first rap album I ever listened to. Loved how "rock n roll" it was and it drew me to the genre as I expanded into LL Cool J, Run-DMC and others. This one hasn't aged as well as "Paul's Boutique" and "Check Your Head", but it still can be a fun listen for some nostalgia. Stand outs for me are "Hold It Now", "Rhymin' & Stealin'", and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn".
Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours
Fiio FT1 Headphones
Notes: I do like some old school crooner music and there isn't anyone better than Sinatra when it comes to that style of music. This has been called the first "concept" album. Maybe. The main theme seems to surround lost love and the fear of lost love. It was enjoyable, but definitely a piece of mood music. Drink in hand, maybe a cigarette, with the lights down low. It will put you in a place and time mentally, which is much of the allure for me.
James McMurtry - Black Dog & The Wandering Boy
Fiio FT1 Headphones
Recommendation: Chris
Notes: A very solid effort by an underrated songwriter. This one reminds me of a cross between Tom Petty (think Wildflowers) and early John Prine. It starts strong....ends strong....the middle is a bit weak as the almost ham fisted political rant "Annie" is a dated effort. My favorites upon first listen were "South Texas Lawman", "Sailing Away", and "The Color of Night". It won't be the last time I put this on.
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Format: CD
Stereo
Notes: It's been a couple of years since I have listened to this album. Considered not only one of the greatest R&B/Soul records of all-time, but also one of the best albums in music overall. It's a thoroughly enjoyable listen, especially in the right mood. Gaye's vocals and the lyrical content stand out, but that doesn't mean the musicianship isn't top notch. Obviously the title track and "Mercy Mercy Me" are all time greats, but my favorite track is "Right On".
Huey Lewis & The News - Sports
Format: Apple Music
Fiio FT1 Headphones
Notes: This album was a huge hit back when I was in high school. You couldn't escape it. All over the radio and MTV. It's probably been 30+ years since I have listened to it, but had fond memories and I wanted to see if it still held up. It does. A really tight, 9 song, 38 minute affair, that's fun and energetic. Not as overly synth heavy as much of the music being made at the time, but it's still there and it makes it very much a product of its' time but not to the point of it not being able to connect now. Very little filler, with the standouts (for me) being "If This Is It", "Walking On A Thin Line", "Bad Is Bad", and of course the infectious "Heart and Soul".
Waylon Jennings - Songbird
Format: Vinyl
Stereo
Notes: A collection of mostly finished songs by Waylon that had never been released. These songs were recorded between 1973 and 1984 and have that original, authentic Waylon sound. A very enjoyable listen, that really does have the feel of a record he would have released back in the late 70s. Kudos to his son Shooter for finding these gems and putting in some work to make them into a "real" album and not just a collection of outtakes. My favorites are the Christine McVie classic "Songbird", Johnny Cash's "After The Ball" and "Dink's Blues", with "The Cowboy" definitely being a highlight.
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