Album Playthrough Project December 2024 and the New 2025 Project

The year has come to a close and the Album Playthrough Project wraps up its current format.  Before moving on, I need to share my December albums, reflect on 2024, and give my specific plans for 2025. 

Being December and the holiday season, the album list is quite heavy and almost exclusive to Christmas music.  Here is the list: 

The Andy Williams Christmas Album (1963) Andy Williams 12/2/24

Christmas Portrait (1978) The Carpenters 12/2/24
Christmas Caravan (1998) Squirrel Nut Zippers 12/3/24
Everyday is Christmas (2018) Sia 12/3/24
Into the Christmas Spirit (1966) Booker T &the MGs 12/4/24
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1965) Burl Ives 12/4/24
A Very Kacey Christmas (2016) Kacey Musgraves 12/4/24
A Very Special Christmas (1987) Various Artists 12/5/24
When My Heart Finds Christmas (1993) Harry Conick Jr. 12/6/248
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album (1964) The Beach Boys 12/7/24
Joy: A Holiday Collection (1999) Jewel 12/7/24
The Greatest Christmas Hits (2003) Pentatonix 12/8/24
Home For Christmas (1992) Amy Grant 12/8/24
Holiday Seasoning (2024) Jimmy Fallon (various artists) 12/8/24
Christmas in a Minor Key (2024) Milk Carton Kids 12/9/24
A Very Special Christmas vol.2 (1992) Various Artists 12/9/24
James Taylor Christmas (2006) James Taylor 12/9/24
A Charlie Brown Christmas (2012) Vince Guaraldi Trio 12/11/24
The Dean Martin Christmas.Album (1966) Dean Martin 12/11/24
A Crystal Christmas (1986) Crystal Gayle 12/15/24
Big Band Holidays III (2023) Jazz at the Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis 12/15/24
Big Bands Holidays II (2019) Jazz at the Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis 12/16/24
Elvis' Christmas Album (1958) Elvis Presley 12/16/24
Johnny Mathis Sounds of Christmas (1963) 12/17/24
Today is Christmas (2015) Leanne Rimes 12/17/24
An Oscar Peterson Christmas (1995) Oscar Peterson 11/17/24
Achtung Baby (1991) U2 12/2824
DAMN (2017) Kendrick Lamar 12/28/24
fruitcake (2023) Sabrina Carpenter 12/28/24
F-1 Trillion (2024) Post Malone 12/29/24
Good Together (2024) Lake Street Dive 12/30/24
Tuesday Night Music Club (1993) Sheryl Crow 12/31/24
Celebrate! (1980) Cool and the Gang 12/31/24

Best Listen of the Month: A Very Kacey Christmas, Kacey Musgraves

This was a huge surprise (maybe should have been in the category below) and quite the discovery for me.

Biggest Surprise: Into the Christmas Spirit, Booker T &the MGs

Ya ever want to just chill during the Christmas Season? This is the album.

Biggest Disappointment: Today is Christmas, Leanne Rimes

Seriously, this almost took me right out of the Christmas Spirit. It was flat.

Best Concert Memory: The Greatest Christmas Hits, Pentatonix

Saw the concert the day before I listened to this album. So talented and fun to listen.

Best Christmas Spirit: The Andy Williams Christmas Album, Andy Williams

It is the most wonderful album of the season.

Most Fun: Christmas Caravan, Squirrel Nut Zippers

Best non-traditional collection of holiday songs. They need to stop playing Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer and the Christmas Donkey song and play (more) Squirrel Nut Zippers!

For a description of the Album Playthrough Project, click here

February

March

April  

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

This is the last post for the 2024 Album Playthrough Project.  In fact, it is the last post for the Album Playthrough Project; however from the Album Playthrough Project comes a new project for 2025: The Artist Playthrough 2025.  

As first heard on The Colby Cast, I have chosen 12 artists to focus on in 2025, one each month.  Below is the list of artists I have chosen, but I haven't necessarily assigned them to a month except for January and December which will be Cold War Kids and Bing Crosby respectively.  

Here are the rest of the artists I have chosen for the Artist Playthrough 2025: 

John Mellencamp
10,000 Maniacs
Taylor Swift
James Taylor
Hozier
Bonnie Raitt
The Doors
U2
Grateful Dead
Dave Matthews Band

I hope you join me in 2025 as I examine the albums of the above artists.

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

March

April  

May

June

July

August

September

October

Album Playthrough Project October 2024

I move into the fourth quarter of the year with the Album Playthrough Project's October album list.  I really need to explore more contemporary artists.  I have enjoyed revisiting the albums of my younger years, but I would like to find more new artists.  I am looking for ways to discover new artists, but one complaint I have with Spotify and many streaming services is they keep giving you more of what you listen to.  This algorithm doesn't help when one would like to discover new artists.  Anyway, I am using some podcasts to hunt for new artists so no worries. 

A few months ago, I teased that I have the next evolution of the Album Playthrough Project for 2025.  I am not ready to reveal the new project, but  I will share the new 2025 Album Playthrough Project in November.   Until then, here is October's album list:  

October Road (2000) James Taylor 10/2/24
Sports (1983) Huey Lewis and the News 10/5/24
Fore! (1986) Huey Lewis and the news 10/5/24
Freeze Frame (1981) J. Geils Band 10/5/24
Dare to be Stupid (1985) Weird Al Yankovic 10/6/24
Pretenders (1980) Pretenders 10/9/24
Mighty Like a Rose (1991) Elvis Costello 10/9/24
Blind Man's Zoo (1989) 10,000 Maniacs 10/9/24
Stream (2024) Fergus McCreadie 10/17/24
No Need to Argue (1994) The Cranberries 10/20/24
Sleeper Catcher (1978) Little River Band 10/21/24
Even in the Quietest Moments (1977) Supertramp 10/22/24
In Through the Out Door (1979) Led Zeppelin 10/22/24
Synchronicity (1983) The Police 10/23/24
Left of Cool (1998) Bela Fleck and the Flecktones 10/23/24
Speaking in Tongues (1983) Talking Heads 10/24/24
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (2008) David Byrne 10/25/24
Rhythm of the Saints (1990) Paul Simon 10/25/24
I Got a Name (1973) Jim Croce 10/25/24
Crosby, Stills, and Nash (1969) Crosby Stills and Nash 10/25/24
Izitso (1977) Yusuf/Cat Stevens 10/26/24
Like a Prayer (1989) Madonna 10/31/24

Best Listen of the Month: Blind Man's Zoo, 10,000 Maniacs

Not much to say other than the 10,000 Maniacs were also on last month's list. I love these guys.

Biggest Surprise: Mighty Like a Rose, Elvis Costello

I didn't realize how many good songs I knew from this album. Very enjoyable listening.

Biggest Disappointment: Let's just say it was a good month of listening!

Still Resonates Today: Dare to Be Stupid, Weird Al Yankovic

Never gets old.

Best Concert Memory: James Taylor, October Road

First concert with my wife in November 2022. Peoria Civic Center

Perfect Moment to Listen: Rhythm of the Saints, Paul Simon

Um, is there a bad time to listen to Paul Simon? I think not.

Most Fun: Sports, Huey Lewis and the News

Yep, you thought it would be Weird Al, didn't you? But, when you know all of the lyrics from 41 years ago...that is fun!

For a description of the Album Playthrough Project, click here

February

March

April  

May

June

July

August

September

Album Playthrough Project September 2024

What a great month of album listening! I found a groove and a good time to get some listening in.  First thing in the morning has turned out to be a really good time to get in most if not all of an album while I am getting ready for the day.  At least, it seems to have worked well this month.  We will see as we enter the fourth quarter of the year.  I hope you enjoy the music I enjoyed (mostly) last month!  

You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna Fish (1978) REO Speedwagon 9/3/24
Hotel California (1976) Eagles 9/3/24
1984 (1984) Van Halen 9/6/24
Flesh & Blood (1990) Poison 9/6/24
Guts (Spilled) (2024) Olivia Rodrigo 9/7/24
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess 2023 Chappell Roan 9/9/24
emails i can't send (2022) Sabrina Carpenter 9/10/24
Fine Line (2019) Harry Styles 9/10/24
Under a Blood Red Sky remastered 2023 (2023) U2 9/10/24

Born in the USA (1984) Bruce Springsteen 9/11/24
Whenever We Wanted (1991) John Mellencamp 9/11/24
October Road (2000) James Taylor 9/11/24
Tuesday Night Music Club (1993) Sheryl Crow 9/12/24
Ringo (1973) Ringo Starr 9/12/24
Get Lifted (2005) John Legend 9/14/24
Beneath the Skin (2015) Of Monsters and Men 9/16/24
Fear (1991) Toad the Wet Sprocket 9/16/24
Sister Sweetly (1993) Big Head Todd and the Monsters 9/16/24
New Jersey (1988) Bon Jovi 9/19/24
Hozier (2014) Hozier 9/18/24
Trouble (2008) Ray Montagne 9/18/24
Deeper Well (2024) Kasey Musgraves 9/19/24
Sound and Color (2015) Alabama Shakes 9/20/24
Streetlight Serenade (1974) Billy Joel 9/21/24
Music (2021) Sia 9/23/24
The Black Album (Metallica) (1991) Metallica 9/23/24
Unorthodox Jukebox (2012) Bruno Mars 9/24/24
Because of the Times (2007) Kings of Leon 9/24/24
Nothing to Lose (2024) Hollow Cove 9/24/24
PourIt Out Into the Night (2023) The Revivalists 9/24/24
White Blood Cells (2001) The White Stripes, Jack White 9/25/24
Stereopathetic Soulmanure (1994) Beck 9/25/24
Only God Was Above Us (2024) Vampire Weekend 9/26/24
Gold Rush Kid (2022) George Ezra 9/27/24
Hardwired Mixtape (2018) Hailey Knox 9/28/24
Moonstone EP (2020) Raveena 9/28/24
The Classic Roy Orbison (1966) Roy Orbison 9/29/24
Live Trax Vol. 44: The Gorge amphitheatre (2017) Dave Matthews Band 9/28/24
In My Tribe (1987) 10,000 Maniacs 9/28/24

Best Listen of the Month: Only God Was Above Us, Vampire Weekend

Biggest Surprise: In My Tribe, 10,000 Maniacs

Don't get me wrong, I loved this album back in the day, but whoa, it still hits today.

Biggest Disappointment: Music, Sia

It was okay. She should stick to Christmas music. Her songs are pretty enjoyable in that season.

Still Resonates Today: The Black Album, Metallica

Dude. This album rocks in 2024 like it did in 1991. And it will in 2054.

Favorite Newbie: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan

Best Concert Memory: Mixtape, Hailey Knox

Caught her show at a local tavern on St. Patrick's Day in 2019. Passionate about her music!

Perfect Moment to Listen: Under a Blood Red Sky, U2

Something about these guys always seems to be the right time.

Most Fun: Stereopathetic Soulmanure, Beck

He knows sound, and boy, does he play with it in his first album. Not an album to relax with.

Album Playthrough Project August 2024

It was a disappointing month of album listening for me.  I was happy with the quality of music I listened to, but disappointed in the number of albums I listened to.  I was, however, able to squeeze in a few albums in some free time.  

It was interesting as time was short, I found myself going to music and artists that I was familiar with.  It seemed that since I didn't have much time to listen, I didn't want to waste any of it with something that might turn out to be a dud.  Or, maybe I knew in my hectic moments that I needed certain music to lift me up and drive me forward.  I'm not sure, but here are the albums I listened to in their entirety in the month of August:  

The Nylon Curtain (1982) Billy Joel 8/15/24
Human Wheels (2005) John Mellencamp 8/22/24
Waiting for the Night (1993) Freddie Jones Band 8/28/24
All of This Life (2018) The Record Company 8/28/24
Shaken N Stirred (1985) Robert Plant 8/29/24
8/23/24 Greenwood Village, Co. (2024) Dave Matthews Band 8/30/24
The Principals of Moments (1983) Robert Plant 8/30/24
Wheels Are Turnin' (1984) REO Speedwagon 8/31/24

Best Memories: The Nylon Curtain - Billy Joel

So many car rides with friends, so many concerts, so many hours memorizing lyrics

Biggest Disappointment: Shaken N Stirred, Robert Plant

What the heck?? Synthesizers galore and not in a good way..bad experimentation.

Best Rebound/Redemption: The Principals of Moments, Robert Plant

I try not to listen to the same artist so soon after an album by the same artist, but I needed to find something to get back to believing in Robert Plant again! It worked.

Best Concert Memory: All of This Life, The Record Company

Glen Oak Park, Peoria, IL June 2019 Great night!

For a description of the Album Playthrough Project, click here

February

March

April  

May

June

July