An Album a day for 2025, selected at random. My way of rediscovering my record collection. Come along as I give my brief thoughts along the way!
Council Skies
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Day 1. The first album of the challenge and a lovely Blood Records release to boot. Let's see where this goes!
Comment by Mark Francos
★ (Blackstar)
David Bowie
Day 2 takes us to the last record of David Bowie, released only 2 days before his death. Not quite him at his peak but an eccentric look at morality filled to the brim with saxophone.
Fav Song - Lazarus
Rating 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
X
Ed Sheeran
Day 3 is a great album from an artist I have been lucky to see on several occasions. This album as is appropriate to someone who lives in NI is written at least in half by NI based musicians.
Fav Song - Bloodstream
Rating 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Fate Of Nations
Robert Plant
Day 4 took us back to the 90's for a classic from Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Our very first record store day pick of the year.
Fav song - If I were a Carpenter
Rating - 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Bright Green Field
Squid
Day 5. A completely different direction for today and an outlier in my collection is this great Math Rock album. Probably my partners least favourite album I own.
Plus first signed album of the year.
Fav Song - G.S.K
Rating 7.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Absolution
Muse
Day 6, is the best form of Muse, early Muse where alternative rock was arguably at it's mid 2000's best!
Fav song - Sing for Absolution
Rating - 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
World Wide Rebel Songs
Tom Morello
Day 7 is a change for sure, this being the first time we really embrace true political music from one of my favourite ever guitarists in Tom Morello of RATM. His solo work is well worth a listen!
Fav Song - Save the Hammer for the man (ft Ben Ben Harper)
Rating 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Ma Fleur
The Cinematic Orchestra
Day 8. The words on each record label sum up my feelings on music!
A. Build
B. Music
C. Into
D. Home
10/10 Artwork
Fav Song - To Build a Home
Rating 7.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Heat
Knut Reiersrud Band
Day 9. I don't shy away from the magic of modern day music discovery, sometimes Spotify can come up with gems and this really was one of them!
A great Norweigan record.
Fav Song - Wood (Very appropriate, if you know you know!)
Rating 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Farm To Table
Bartees Strange
Day 10. A fantastic atmospheric indie rock album that goes everywhere! Synths and guitar galore with hints of sax. What more do you need?
Fav Song - Daily News
Rating 8.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
On The Border
Eagles
Day 11, an early 70s press of one of my dad's favorite bands. A band that has really grown on me the more I listen to them.
Fav Song - On the Border
Rating 8.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Prismism
Keuning
Day 12, familiar yet an album that goes to new places in this solo work from one of the members of my favourite live band in the Killers.
Fav Song - The Queen's Finest
Rating 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Palomino
First Aid Kit
Day 13. Great soothing album from a band I remember going to see as part of a festival years ago and wondering who the hell they were. They were good!
Possibly the nicest record splatter of the year so far.
Fav Song - Angels
Rating - 7.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Human After All
Daft Punk
Day 14. Improv and media oppression in this Daft Punk record, that for me is probably my least favourite of theirs.
Fav Song - Technologic
Rating 6.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Demon Days
Gorillaz
Day 15. What more can you say apart from it being "Feel Good"
Fav Song - Feel Good Inc
Rating 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
No Frontiers
Mary Black
Day 16 Nominee as the album that featured my favourite song from the Mary Black concert at the Ulster Hall that day.
Comment by Mark Francos
Human
Rag'n'Bone Man
Day 17. An album that is just made for Vinyl and one of my favourite debut albums of the last decade. Signed which is definitely a perkl.
Fav Song - Skin
Rating 9.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
÷ (Divide)
Ed Sheeran
Day 18, a second Sheeran album and its a cracker! No real filler and so easy to listen to.
Fav Song - How would you feel
Rating 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Mama Said
Lenny Kravitz
Day 19, someone I wasn't too familiar with till introduced by a friend but something that needs far more exploring!
Fav Song - Always on the run
Rating 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Sound Ancestors
Madlib
Day 20, Definetly one of my favourite physical records I have picked up in recent years, again from Blood Records.
Fav Song - Hopprock
Rating 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
You Belong There
Daniel Rossen
Day 21, an album I don't remember buying! Or why! But good none the less!
Fav Song - Celia
Rating 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
Day 22. Second Gallagher record of the year ahead of seeing him again later this year reunited as Oasis! A really solid debut album that has Oasis familiarity with something else still!
Fav Song - Come Back to Me
Rating 7.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
xx
The xx
Day 23. As I went through putting these records up on Instagram I had friends very confused at my music taste as we can see some real variance in this and day 24.
This has one of my favourite opening tracks off any album and an album that is minimalist yet a great example of late 00's indie rock and pop!
Fav Song - Crystalised
Rating 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
Day 24 is a 60s classic and one of the most influential albums of all time without doubt. It's a great early concept album that explores some varied themes, that is matched with its eccentric use of instruments and arrangements you would ever hear on a rock album.
Fav Song - God Only Knows
Rating 8.75/10
Comment by Mark Francos
A Night At The Opera
Queen
Day 25 sees me break the record collecting world with my controversial take that Bohemian Rhapsody doesn't belong on this album! But is probably the closest song to perfection ever.
That aside it is one of my absolute favourite albums of all time and is always what I give as my introduction to Queen. Quite appropriately this is also our very first 10/10 of the year.
Fav Song - The Prophet's Song
Rating 10/10
Comment by Mark Francos
In The Court Of The Crimson King
King Crimson
Day 26. Red Screamy Man anyone?
A truly iconic album cover, but also one of the best examples of 60's prog rock. A masterpiece!
Fav Song - Epitaph
Rating 9.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
London Calling
The Clash
Day 27, sometimes less is more when describing. Also a masterpiece and a staple of any record collection.
Fav Song - London Calling
Rating 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Day 28, this week has been the best for this challenge. Have I used masterpiece yet?
This album takes me back to the North East for where it all began for one of our most legendary musicians. And what an album it is led by Mark Knopfler with some of the best guitar playing you can ever hear. It's why I spent so much buying my fav song off this album as a signed soundwave print. Thanks Mark!
Fav Song - Sultans of Swing
Rating 9.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Appeal To Reason
Rise Against
Day 29, was another live day, this time seeing Rise Against for the first time live at the Telegraph Building in Belfast. What a night and this album represents that night so well!
Fav Song - Savior
Comment by Mark Francos
A Celebration Of Endings: Live From The Barrowland Ballroom Glasgow
Biffy Clyro
Day 30, carries on with our live theme in the form of one of Scotlands best loved bands. I can't wait to see them live again, For now I can rest with this album and their MTV unplugged set. I wonder if that will make an appearance this year...
Fav Song - Space
Rating 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette
Day 31 continues with a record I received almost in outrage from my sister for Christmas, appalled that I didn't have it in my collection. I have no defence, it is a 90's staple!
Fav Song - Hand in my Pocket
Rating 8.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Revolution Come...Revolution Go
Gov't Mule
Day 32, an Allman Brothers spinoff, and in my eyes better! Is that bad to say! This album is excellent and shows they can still do it all these years on!
Fav Song - Stone Cold Rage / Pressure Under Fire
Rating 8.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Mickey Mouse Disco
Various
Day 33, some people on Instagram have thought this challenge is fixed and only highlights the cool parts of the collection. This will do nothing to alleviate those thoughts I'm well aware! A Record Store Day staple in the collection for sure!
Fav Song - Macho Duck
Rating 1000/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Simon And Garfunkel's Greatest Hits
Simon & Garfunkel
Day 34, the first record I physically ever bought in person as I first started collecting records back in 2016. Yes it's beat up and clicks to high heaven, but what a record and still holds some real sentiments!
Plus Paul Simon is a genius! Enough Said. Well apart from Art doesn't get enough credit sometimes!
Fav Song - The Boxer
Rating 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Endless Summer Vacation
Miley Cyrus
Day 35, An album I struggled with a little for the cohesiveness. It switches genres a little too much for me, though does have some great tracks and her voice holds up well.
Fav Song - Flowers
Rating 5.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Different Class
Pulp
Day 36, a 90's staple from the band fronted by everyone's favourite English teacher.
Its a must listen from the era with a few of the best songs of that decade easily found here.
Now to go and watch their 2011 Reading finale...
Fav Song - Common People
Rating 8.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Will Of The People
Muse
Day 37 features the latest release from one of the UK's most beloved live acts. Thier 9th studio album is varied to say the least from a genre perspective and goes back in many ways to what made them who they are. A solid solid effort.
Fav Song - You make me feel like it's Halloween.
Rating 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Freedom Child
The Script
Day 38 takes us to 2017 to an Irish band I saw only again recently. Dare I say it the last good stuff they put out. Satellites for me just doesn't quite hit it. Maybe I'm being influenced from the poor sound engineer they had at their SSE gig.
Fav Song - Rain
Rating 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Loveless
My Bloody Valentine
Day 39
Comment by Mark Francos
Headsoup
Goat
Day 40
Comment by Mark Francos
Live For The Moment
The Sherlocks
Day 41 is one of my favourite debut albums of the last decade, was really hyped to see them late last years as they supported Keane in Dublin, if they had only had a better sound engineer it would have been brilliant!
Fav Song - Last Night
Rating - 8.5/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Back To Bedlam
James Blunt
Day 42 was another live gig day with James Blunt my guilty pleasure as I always say launching his Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary tour in Belfast. In advance I listened to the album, with the favourite song being High, but as this is a live day the rules do change and the rating goes for the gig!
Fav Song - Monsters
Rating 10/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Cryosleep
Matthew Bellamy
Day 43 is probably one of my favourite picture discs, and it is a shame this is a picture disc, its a RSD release which has some of Bellamy's and Muse's best versions of songs, almost hauntingly good versions at times!
Fav Song - Unintended (Piano Lullaby)
Rating 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Believe
Jonathan Antoine
Day 44, does show how random a record collection can get, with a BGT contestant of several years ago. It is a beautiful album that is without a doubt, but not the best pressing!
Fav Song - Un Giorno Per Noi
Rating 7/10 (A generous 7)
Comment by Mark Francos
Imploding The Mirage
The Killers
Day 45, ah back to collection normality! A cracker from my favourite live band who I will never see enough of! This album I will always remember as it launched at the same time as Covid-19 in the UK was unfortunately taking hold. It's a throw back to those times but a positive amongst the lost years!
Fav Song - Dying Breed
Rating 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
The Ghost Note Symphonies, Vol. 1
Rise Against
Day 46 is an primarily acoustic record covering so many of Rise Against's best songs, I really hope this isn't a one off and we see a second volume and more of this!
Fav Song - Like the Angel
Rating - 8/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Unwanted
Pale Waves
Day 47 is such a uniquely designed record and a great flurry of indie pop!
Fav song - The Hard Way
Rating 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Curtain Call - The Hits
Eminem
Day 48, is a masterpiece full of all the hits, for someone like me who isn't a big Rap fan, Eminem really does have something special.
Fav Song - Like Toy Soldiers
Rating 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Stand!
Sly & The Family Stone
Day 49, takes us a very different direction to day 48 and that is what I have loved about this challenge so far. Did we expect to go from Lose Yourself to 1969 soulful, funkiness, no! That is what this challenge is all about!
Fav Song - Somebody's Watching You
Rating 7/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Saltburn (Music From The Motion Picture)
Various
Day 50 marks our first major milestone of the year and appropriately we have something a bit different with our first liquid filled record of the year, and an absolutely cracking soundtrack which even has the unofficial UK national anthem! But despite that, doesn't make it as the fav song!
Fav Song - Murder on the dancefloor
Rating -10/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Disney Ultimate Hits
Various
Day 51 is another compilation and one of those silly yet great records you should have in a shared collection. Let's just say I had a really hard time choosing my favorite song! All I can say is it didn't come from Frozen, good song but god overplayed to high heaven!
Fav Song - Under the Sea
Rating - 100m/10 (According to my partner)
Comment by Mark Francos
Steve McQueen
Prefab Sprout
Day 52, takes us back to the North East of England to my home of County Durham and arguably its biggest musical export! Indie Pop wouldn't have been the same without them!
Fav Song -
Rating - 9/10
Comment by Mark Francos
Deluxe Tracks
Nothing But Thieves