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All posts for the month July, 2026

Random Album of the Day

I like stats. So here are some. In July, we had 27 Random Albums of the Day. What, not 31? Nope. I was in the hospital with sepsis to start the month so missed a few days.

Of the 27 Albums in July, I kept 23 and trashed 4. I also trashed another album in the background which I had trouble determining what it was at first but didn’t like it anyway and somehow it never made it into a post. I just kept moving haha.

The average rating for July was 8.78, which was the highest average rating for a month in the first three months – by a long shot. Now I’m a generous rater and I know that. And keep in mind this music is all coming from my collection so I’m going to like most of it. The highest rating I gave was a 10 which was for the Violent Femmes debut self-titled LP. The lowest rating I gave out was a 3 which was for Jared & The Mill’s Daytrotter Session. Sorry Jared. Just not my thing.

Speaking of Daytrotter Sessions, we had 4 of them in July. In fact we’ve now been doing this for 77 days and we’ve had 13 Daytrotter Sessions overall. These are hit and miss as I sometimes just downloaded Daytrotter content based on the cover – which as we know you shouldn’t judge a book by its’ cover.

We started this in May and here is the data so far for 77 days of Random Albums:

I will add to the data as I go. I’m currently updating to including how many are LPs v EPs and Singles. So we’ll have that for August’s summary update. In the end, the Random Album of the Day is a good way for me to explore my large collection, pare it down and remove some of the stuff I won’t listen to anyhow, and even expand it at times when I find material that I want more of. I may even from time to time decide I want something on vinyl that I only have digitally. If I was in better health I would do a random vinyl of the day too. Also it’s a good way for me to share music. Hopefully others find it interesting!

Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is the Hot and Informed EP from Q and Not U. Yes, we’ve encountered them before on the Random Album of the Day. This is, in fact, our first repeat artist! They were I think our third artist ever on the Random Album of the Day.

Anyhow, Q and Not U is a post hardcore band from DC. They first formed in 1998 and they are really quite good. This is just a 3 song EP but it does provide a good glimpse into their music.

Rating: 9.6

Favorite Track(s): “And the Washington Monument Blinks Goodnight” is a solid tune and a great song title. The beeping should be annoying but I enjoy it. That’s a good song but “Bus Lights Busy Carpet” is a great song! “Kiss Distinctly American” is the last song and it’s slower paced but good.

Keep or Trash: Keep.

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is a Daytrotter Session from Woodsman. They are listed as post rock or psychedelic rock or Neo-Psychedelia. I went in with low expectations but those genre tags intrigue me.

Post rock is most apt I think for these three songs. Though I do see the psychedelic tinge. It’s actually pretty good. I had low expectations for whatever reason but not bad at all.

Rating: 9.0

Favorite Track(s): “Healthy Life” most caught my attention.

Keep or Trash: Keep.

This Daytrotter Session can be streamed at this link. It dates from February 3, 2014.

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is Give Up the Ghost from Brandi Carlile. I originally rolled another “album” but it wasn’t clear if it was an album or just a bunch of singles I had for that artist. So I’m going to research that and bump it to another day. I just need time to clarify information on it.

Brandi Carlile is pop folk. A bit on the poppy end to be something I get too into maybe. But I do like her music. Like I thought “Looking Out” was a solid folk rock song but “Dying Day” felt bland to me. I should love it as it’s a sappy love song and I’m a total sap. Same with “Oh dear”.

So overall I have mixed feelings on the album. Some songs I like and some I don’t love. Nothing I absolutely hate though so a good album overall.

Rating: 8.0

Favorite Track(s): “Looking Out” is a solid folk rock song. “Dreams” is nice and anthemic. I Like “Caroline” quite a bit actually. “Touching the Ground” is the reason I have this album. I love it.

Keep or Trash: Keep.

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is another one from XDS (aka Experimental Dental School). This one is their latest album, Bicycle Ripper – their first album in 14 years. Facts like this make me feel as old as I am. I just bought this album recently actually. After 14 years they sound similar but different as one would expect. Still good is what matters.

XDS is noise rock or experimental rock. It’s both of course. This album brings a little less volume to it it feels like. But it still brings the noisy sound and a very experimental approach. Not disappointed at all. Very good.

Rating: 9.6

Favorite Track(s): “Hot Panther Cold Moon” evokes old school XDS to me. “Octave Cat Rainbow” has some good riffs. “Bicycle Ripper” unsurprisingly ripped. It’s got good tilt to it. “Dune Mellow” was excellent. “Worry Doll’s Blues” has an almost chill feeling to it – in a good way. “Shake Shadows” is good. etc…

Keep or Trash: Keep.

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is 010 from Ulysses. Ulysses is considered slacker rock or indie pop. It’s a side project of Apples in Stereo singer and keyboardist. They just have this one album I think. I’m not totally sure but I actually like this better than Apples in Stereo which is interesting.

So yeah I do like this. It’s plain indie rock to me. Pretty simple and enjoyable. Also good to sing along to.

Rating: 9.3

Favorite Track(s): “Television” just works for me with both its lyrics and melody. “Burning You” has good sing along ability. “Castles in Spain” also makes me want to belt it out. “Evening Star” is another good catchy tune.

Keep or Trash: Keep.

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is Spring St EP from City Center. I misread Rate Your Music and thought they classified one of the genres for City Center as “Indie Stuff”. That would be some vague bullshit right there. But I made that up.

Like many weird indie experimental stuff, this EP gets a few genre tags such as Hypnagogic Pop, Ambient Pop, Sound Collage, Slacker Rock, Noise, and Field Recording. I mean I can’t really argue with any of that except maybe pop. But it also sort of works as pop I guess in its own weird way.

Whatever this EP is, I like it. It’s got an eclectic indie melody going with intermittent samples and noise. At the same time, do I need more of their music? That is hard to say. I think I’d have to listen to see how their sound evolves. I do like this, but also am not sure how much more of this exact sound that I need. Jen also didn’t find it very exciting so there is that as well. It is absolutely an acquired taste. gotta like some weirdness to your music.

Rating: 8.8

Favorite Track(s): “Sky Flowers” is so ethereal and lovely while being slightly abrasive in a good way. Perhaps a bit long and repetitive. I like the haunting tilt to “How We Live”.

Keep or Trash: Keep. This won’t get a lot of listens but it does fit a certain mood.

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is Felix Ayo and I Musici performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This is classical music obviously. I know nothing about nothing when it comes to classical music despite having been semi irregular at the symphony for years. I just enjoy it is all I know.

Rating: 9.5

Favorite Track(s): Uh, I just like it all.

Keep or Trash: Keep. I don’t listen to classical much but it is a nice listen.

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is another Daytrotter Session. This one is from My Brightest Diamond. Art Pop seems the most appropriate genre.

I liked this. It has a touch of weird at times but is overall beautiful. Her talent is obvious and her orchestration of her songs is anything but stale while still being somewhat minimalist.

Rating: 9.2

Favorite Track(s): “From the Top of the World” is beautiful yet haunting. Very good. “Apples” is good in a weird way and also pretty.

Keep or Trash: Keep. I’m intrigued by this one.

I didn’t find the Daytrotter Session. I found one from 2007, but this one is from 2008. Anyhow, the songs are on this album:

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Random Album of the Day

Today’s Random Album of the Day is the Daytrotter Session from Jared & The Mill. This seems to be straight up country rock. I like some alt-country but not so much straight up country rock. This was not for me. I won’t say much about it. I didn’t like it but maybe you might…

But at least I stayed true to form and gave it a full listen!

Rating: 3.0

Favorite Track(s): N/A

Keep or Trash: Trash.

I could not find a stream that I could embed but you can listen here.

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