Day 53: Rush make us Illmatic and Christina makes us Dirrty

Album 170/1031

Nas - Illmatic (1994)

Track listing[edit]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Genesis"	Nasir Jones, Fred Braithwaite	Nas, Faith N.	1:45
2.	"N.Y. State of Mind"	Jones, Christopher Martin	DJ Premier	4:53
3.	"Life's a Bitch" (featuring AZ)	Jones, Anthony Cruz, Olu Dara Jones, Robert Wilson, Oliver Scott	L.E.S., Nas (co.)	3:30
4.	"The World Is Yours"	Jones, Peter Phillips	Pete Rock	4:50
5.	"Halftime"	Jones, William Paul Mitchell, Gary Byrd	Large Professor	4:20
6.	"Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)"	Jones, Martin, Reuben Wilson, Peg Barsella	DJ Premier	4:08
7.	"One Love"	Jones, Jonathan Davis, Jimmy Heath	Q-Tip	5:25
8.	"One Time 4 Your Mind"	Jones, Mitchell	Large Professor	3:18
9.	"Represent"	Jones, Martin	DJ Premier	4:12
10.	"It Ain't Hard to Tell"	Jones, Mitchell	Large Professor	3:22

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illmatic

Golf's verdict: To these ears, far superior to the Ghostface Killah album of a day or two ago (Fishscales). If nothing else, we're certainly getting to hear a lot more hip-hop than in our usual musical diet. Not that I dislike it, just that I rarely know where to look, so head back to the old-school favourites like NWA and Public Enemy. Whilst hardly a new act, I'd only ever heard of Nas, not his music. Really enjoyed it. Thoughtful, articulate rap. A few years later he released a follow up album called Stillmatic. Geddit?

Maire's verdict: Pleasant enough (not sure that's the vibe he was going for), although probably didn't like it enough to seek out more.

Album 171/1031

Rush - 2112 (1976)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"2112" I. "Overture" (0:00 – 4:33) II. "The Temples of Syrinx" (4:33 – 6:45) III. "Discovery" (Music: Lifeson) (6:45 – 10:14) IV. "Presentation" (Music: Lifeson) (10:14 – 13:56) V. "Oracle: The Dream" (13:56 – 15:56) VI. "Soliloquy" (15:56 – 18:17) VII. "Grand Finale" (18:17 – 20:34)"	20:34 4:33 2:12 3:29 3:43 2:00 2:21 2:17

Side two
No.	Title	Length
2.	"A Passage to Bangkok"	3:32
3.	"The Twilight Zone"	3:16
4.	"Lessons" (Lyrics: Lifeson)	3:51
5.	"Tears" (Lyrics: Lee)	3:30
6.	"Something for Nothing" (Music: Lee)	3:59

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2112_(album)


Golf's verdict: Another band that, based on my love of bands like Cardiacs and Ultrasound, friends are convinced I will like. I don't. Christ, they've another album on the list to sit through...

Maire's verdict: Shite, but not as bad as Hawkwind.

Album 172/1031

Christina Aguilera - Stripped (2002)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Stripped Intro"			1:39
2.	"Can't Hold Us Down" (featuring Lil' Kim)	Christina Aguilera Scott Storch Matt Morris	Storch Aguilera[a] E. Dawk[a]	4:15
3.	"Walk Away"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera[a] E. Dawk[a]	5:47
4.	"Fighter"	Aguilera Storch	Storch Aguilera[a] E. Dawk[a]	4:05
5.	"Primer Amor Interlude"			0:53
6.	"Infatuation"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera[a] E. Dawk[a]	4:17
7.	"Loves Embrace Interlude"			0:46
8.	"Loving Me 4 Me"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera[a] E. Dawk[a]	4:36
9.	"Impossible"	Alicia Keys	Keys	4:14
10.	"Underappreciated"	Aguilera Storch Morris	Storch Aguilera[a] E. Dawk[a]	4:00
11.	"Beautiful"	Linda Perry	Perry	3:58
12.	"Make Over"	Aguilera Perry	Perry	4:12
13.	"Cruz"	Perry Aguilera	Perry	3:49
14.	"Soar"	Aguilera Rob Hoffman Heather Holley	Hoffman Holley	4:45
15.	"Get Mine, Get Yours"	Aguilera Steve Morales Balewa Muhammad David Siegel	Morales Muhammad[a]	3:44
16.	"Dirrty" (featuring Redman)	Aguilera Dana Stinson Muhammad Reginald Noble Jasper Cameron	Rockwilder Aguilera Muhammad[a] Cameron[a]	4:58
17.	"Stripped Pt. 2"			0:45
18.	"The Voice Within"	Aguilera Glen Ballard	Ballard	5:04
19.	"I'm OK"	Aguilera Perry	Perry	5:18
20.	"Keep on Singin' My Song"	Aguilera Storch	Storch Aguilera[a] E. Dawk[a]	6:29

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stripped_(Christina_Aguilera_album)

Golf's verdict: At a punishing 77+ minutes this is obviously the product of someone who thinks every note of music they make is worth sharing. I'd beg to differ. It's very samey and overlong, but is rescued by a few stand-out smashers, like the talent show staple: Beautiful; and Dirrty is also fun.

Maire's verdict: I enjoyed this, much to my surprise. I knew a couple of the tracks but used to put her in the same pile as Mariah. Would I buy her album on vinyl? Probably not, but don't mind listening to her again.