Day 49 - The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators (1966)

"The Psychedelic Sounds Of The 13th Floor Elevators" is by far the worst album i've heard in a long time. When I started playing it and I heard the first song "You're Gonna Miss Me" I thought it was pretty good and was looking forward to the rest of the album being as good as the lead single. Sadly, I was wrong. After the first song the album's quality degenerates rapidly. All the other songs on the album sound as if the band was singing from a mile away with the music being played loudly and obnoxiously right against the microphone. The result of this chaos is that all the songs sound like loud, garbled messes with impossible to understand lyrics and wailing throughout. It took all I had not to turn the album off and listen to something good but for the sake of this challenge I persevered. I give this album my lowest rating ever, 2/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: You're Gonna Miss Me.

Day 48 - Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)

Hey music lovers! It’s been far too long since i’ve posted a review so think of this as my comeback :). 

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme was Simon & Garfunkel’s third album and contains the hit singles “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” and “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)”. I really like this album, Simon & Garfunkel harmonise really well and a lot of the songs are catchy. I think Paul has a slightly better voice though. 

The soft rock/folk style of the album was very peaceful to listen to and the song “A Simple Desultory Philippic (or How I Was Robert McNamara’d into Submission)” was very interesting for using a whole list of names throughout it to tell a story, including Art Garfunkel’s name too!

I give this album 4/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: Scarborough Fair/Canticle, The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy), Patterns, Cloudy & The Dangling Conversation.

Day 47 - The Rolling Stones - Aftermath (1966)

"Aftermath" was the fourth album released by The Rolling Stones in 1966. This album was a major improvement over their debut and the band wrote all the songs this time around. The Stones sounds much more fleshed out this time around and there are some definite hits on "Aftermath". My favourite song on this album is "Mother's Little Helper" which was sadly left off the US release for the inclusion of "Paint It Black" which I would've liked to have seen on the UK release too because I love that song. The guys sound great, they play well and they had me singing along. I give this 5/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: Mother's Little Helper, Under My Thumb, Lady Jane, Stupid Girl, Out Of Time & Take It Or Leave It.

Day 47 - Agnetha Fältskog - A (2013)

"A" is Agnetha's first new album in almost a decade, her last being "My Colouring Book" released in 2004. When Agnetha was a teenager she released a few albums of schlager music in her homeland of Sweden but it wasn't until she met Benny, Bjorn and Frida and ABBA was formed that she really rose to prominence and became internationally famous. I love ABBA and Agnetha was always my favourite so when I heard she was releasing a new album I was ecstatic. "A" is an album of sombre love songs sung in Agnetha's classic sweet girl next door type voice, along with one disco song that takes you back to ABBA's heydey in the 70's. Her voice is still as great as ever and I loved all her new songs, however I don't feel this album was as good as her albums with ABBA. Still, a very solid effort. 4/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: The One Who Loves You Now, When You Really Loved Someone, I Should've Followed You Home, Perfume In The Breeze & Dance Your Pain Away.

Day 47 - The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out! (1966)

"Freak Out!" is the debut album from Frank Zappa's band The Mothers Of Invention, originally called The Mothers but changed after their studio realised what a hit band they had on their hands. I think of all the 60's bands i've heard The Mothers Of Invention are the most psychedelic and trippy, and also one of the most unique. On "Freak Out" the majority of the album has funny songs such as an anti-love love song "Go Cry On Somebody' Else's Shoulder" and a satire on mind control "Who Are The Brain Police?". The album was one of rock's first double album and clocks in at almost an hour long. A supposed storyline exists linking all the songs and turning it into a concept album but if that's true I didn't pick up on it. The last two songs on the album "Help, I'm A Rock Star" and "The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magnet" are the longest and the latter is the most disturbing song on the album. It starts out normal but then as it progresses it turns into screams and moans and weird music. It was the most inventive song but my least favourite. I give this album 4/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: Who Are The Brain Police?, Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder, Wowie Zowie, You Didn't Try To Call Me & You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here.

Day 46 - Paul Revere & The Raiders - Midnight Ride (1966)

"Midnight Ride" is the fifth album by Paul Revere & The Raiders and was important to them because it marked the first time all five band members wrote all the songs on the album. I wasn't familiar with Paul Revere & The Raiders but i'm glad I had the opportunity to listen to this album because I really loved it. Pop Rock is one of my favourite genres of music and "Midnight Ride" had excellent, catchy songs on it that had me tapping my foot and singing along. My favourite song on the album was "All I Really Need Is You", I love the exotic sounding guitar and the chorus is really cool. I give this album 5/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: All I Really Need Is You, Kicks, Louie, Go Home, Melody For An Unknown Girl, I'm Not Your Stepping Stone & Ballad Of A Useless Man.

Day 45 - The Mamas And The Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears (1966)

"If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears" was a wonderful album, I don't know why I didn't listen to it sooner. This album was the debut release of The Mamas And The Papas and contains their two massive hits,  "California Dreamin'" and "Monday Monday". There's a funny story about the album cover, some people were offended by a toilet being on the cover and thought it was obscene so the album was re-released with pictures covering the toilet as my cover demonstrates. The harmonies between the band members were great and Mama Cass's voice in particular was lovely. I give this album a well deserved 5/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: California Dreamin', Monday Monday, Do You Wanna Dance?, The 'In' Crowd,  Straight Shooter & You Baby.