Album Playthrough Project November 2024

While we have moved into the holiday season, and around here that means Christmas music 24/7, let's reflect back on a good month of album listening in November.  The month of album listening started with Madonna and finished with punk band Amyl and the Sniffers.  The month was heavy with Dave Matthews because I had to get my fix of DMB before I took a month off to listen almost exclusively to Christmas music. 

Last month, I mentioned that I would reveal the next phase of the Album Playthrough Project for 2025.  In 2025, I have decided to do a deep dive into twelve artists albums to examine how their music has changed over a career (or not), and to determine my favorite of each album I examine.  I will look at at least 5 albums from the twelve artists.  Here is a short list of  artists that I am considering in the Musical Artist Album Playthrough 2025: 

John Mellencamp, 10,000 Maniacs, Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, The Killers, Squirrel Nut Zippers, James Taylor, and Cold War Kids

Do you have any suggestions of artists you would like to see me do a Musical Artist Album Playthrough in 2025?  Leave a comment below or on Twitter @draftline

Here is my Album Playthrough List for November 2025

Ray of Light (1998) Madonna 11/2/24
Everyday (2001) Dave Matthews Band 11/3/24
Live in Chicago 12/19/98 at the United Center (2001) Dave Matthews Band 11/4/24
Wonderful Wonderful (2017)The Killers 11/4/24
Eliminator (1983) ZZ Top 11/5/24
It's Hard (1982) The Who 11/6/24
Battle at the Garden's Gate (2021) Great Van Fleet 11/6/24
I See (2019) Cam Cole 11/7/24
Red Bird (2015) Jessie Roper 11/8/24
Slow Lightning (2023) The Bones of J.R. Jones 11/8/24
Live Trax Vol.14: Nissan Pavilion (2009) Dave Matthews Band 11/15/24
Live Trax Vol. 50: Hershey Park Stadium (2019) Dave Matthews Band 11/16/24
Abraxas (1970) Santana 11/16/24
Made in America (1980) Blues Brothers 11/18/24
Uh-huh (1983) John Mellencamp 11/20/24
Human Wheels (2005) John Mellencamp 11/20/24
Keep It Hid (2009) Dan Auerbach 11/21/24
Live Trax Vol. 16 Riverbend Music Center (2009) Dave Matthews Band 11/24/24
How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb (2024) U2 11/30/24
Half Life (2024) Wyatt Flores 11/30/24
Heaven Let them Die (2004) Counterparts 11/30/24
Cartoon Darkness (2024) Amyl and the Sniffers 11/30/24

Best Listen of the Month: Abraxas, Santana

Biggest Surprise: Wonderful Wonderful, The Killers

Biggest Disappointment: Heaven Let Them Die, Counterparts

What?? Did someone say something? Huh?

Still Resonates Today: Eliminator, ZZ Top

Best Concert Memory: Live Trax: Vol. 50: Hershey Park Stadium, Dave Matthews Band

Perfect Moment to Listen: Human Wheels, John Mellencamp

Most Fun: Made in America, Blues Brothers

Jake and Elwood Blues know how to entertain a crowd.

For a description of the Album Playthrough Project, click here

February

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May

June

July

August

September

October

A Christmas Playlist for 2024

At the end of the holiday season in early January 2024 after the days of 24 hour Christmas music had

gone, I sat down and put together a playlist of my favorite Christmas songs.  I didn't have any criteria other than these are the songs that seemed to fill me with joy during the 2023 Christmas season.  

The playlist is on Spotify and it is a public playlist titled: A Pretty Good Christmas Playlist

Here are the songs that made the cut: 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year  Andy Williams

Candy Cane Lane  Sia

Santa Clause is Coming to Town - Live at C.W. Post College, Greenvale, NY - December 1975        Bruce Springsteen

What Christmas Means to Me (feat. Stevie Wonder)  John Legend

Winter Wonderland  Ray Charles

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town Frank Sinatra, Cyndi Lauper

This Christmas  CeeLo Green

Christmas Song - Live at Wrigley Field, Chicago September 2010  Dave Matthews Band

Silent Night  Meghan Trainor

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  James Taylor

Blue Christmas  Elvis Presley

The Christmas Song  The Stephen Kummer Trio, The Chris McDonald Orchestra

Christmas Wrapping (with Iggy Pop)  Kylie Minogue, Iggy Pop