Rushmoras

One and only album from 4 Non Blondes called "Bigger, Better, Faster, More!" (1992). Started kinda questionable, but ended up to be above average (so, decent for first albums). Beats me why they were only a one-album-band. 6.4/10

Never heard of them, though, if somebody asked I swear it was Mick Jagger singing (at least Madam George song).

Just came back from my two-weeks trip to Egypt. Been to Luxor (Temple of Karnak), then went to Temple of Hatshepsut, and then on to the Valley of Kings. Monuments were nice to look at, but the effin bastards purposely hid the entrance after the compulsory walking through peddlers market with their cheap "only one dolla" Made in China trinkets (but in reality "give me ten dolla" trinkets). Oh, and always assume that everyone wants a tip for any effin thing there: you sit in the front of the go-cart, which travels from the entrance to the Valley of the Kings? The driver is going to incessantly demand for a tip even though you've already paid for the ticket (someone from our group lost their glasses, the driver picked them up and demanded an eff load of cash for picking-up the item). Then, there was another tour with a travel agency, which was a crock of shit. It was supposed to be a nice boat ride on the sea canals of the Al Ghouna and then walking around the district (Al Ghouna is basically artificially created rich-people town near Hurgada with VIP resorts and stuff, which is more or less probably more greener and clean then the entirety of Egypt, sadly), while listenining to the guide about how this town was created. And the culmination of which was supposed to be a boat trip to swim near the corral reef after mid-day. In reality, it was maybe half an hour boat ride on one canal, and then transfer to the ship for snorkelling for couple of hours, and then by the end of the trip forced going to shops. Yeah, all of the big travel agencies (TUI, CorarlTravel and the like) have their contracts with shops there, and they will bring tourists there whether they want to or not. Never book a trip though your own travel agency and just look for local offers with good reputation on the Internet: it will be cheaper, quicker and no shops. On the other hand, the all-inclusive hotel, in which we stayed, was probably one of the nicest we've been to in general (out of Greece, Turkey and Egypt at least). Per day you could walk 10 kilometres distance (the area is that huge). Couple of pictures taken:

Fourteenth and fifteenth albums of Indochine: Karma Girls (2019) and Babel Babel (2024). While Karma Girls I would put in to the category of Extended Play (because, in all honesty, it only features one song called... you've guessed it... Karma Girls, but with five different versions), so I really don't know whether it is a studio album, but Spotify seems to oddly categorise it as such, and their current last album Babel Babel (2024) was another alright album of theirs featuring their newly found synth sound, which IMO, makes them more of a dance-pop band now than new-wave, but whathever. It's actually easier this way to figure out if you like the song or not when it's poppy - you either like it or you don't, while when its in heavier genre, there (at least for me) comes several facts in to play: whether the beat is good, whether the riffs stand out, whether the voice is good, whether the lyrics are good, whether the deliver is good etc. Sorry, caught myself in a moment there... Also, before I forget, interestingly, Indochine is one of the few bands, out of which extensive discography, there simply isn't a ten out of ten album for me strangely. As always, subjective assessments of each albums: 1. L'avanturier (1982) - 7.1/10 [Best songs: L’aventurier; Francoise (qu’est-ce qui t’apris?)] 2. Le peril jaune (1983) - 6.4/10 [Best songs: Pavillon rouge; Okinawa; Tankin; Kao-Bang; A l’est de Java] 3. 3 (1985) - 7.8/10 [Best songs: Monte Cristo; Salombo; Hors-la-loi; Trois nuits par semaine] 4. 7000 danses (1987) - 6.7/10 [Best songs: Les tzars – Version longue; La machine a rattraper le temps; Un grand carnaval; 7000 danses; Une maison perdue…] 5. Le baiser (1990) - 9.1/10 [Best songs: Le baiser; More…; Punishment Park; Les plus Mauvaises nuits; La colline des roses] 6. Un jour dans notre vie (1993) - 8.3/10 [Best songs: Sur lets toits du monde; Un jour dans notre vie; Some Days; D’ici mon amour; Ultra S] 7. Wax (1996) - 9.2/10 [Best songs: Unisexe; Drugstar; Je n’embrasse pas; Les silences de Juliette; Kissing My Song] 8. Dancetaria (1999) - 7.5/10 [Best songs: Manifesto (les divisions de la joie); Justine; Atomic Sky; Stef II] 9. Paradize (2002) - 8/10 [Best songs: Punker; Mao Boy; J’ai demande a la lune; Le grand secret (feat. Melissa Auf der Maur); Popstitute; Comateen; Un singe en hiver] 10. Alice & June (Deluxe Edition) (2005) - 7.7/10 [Best songs: Les portes du soir; Alice & June – Version Album; Gang Bang; Pink Water 3 – avec Brian Molko; Adora; Un homme dans la bouche; Sweet Dreams; Aujourd’hui je pleure; Pink Water 2] 11. La repulique des Meteors (2009) - 8.7/10 [Best songs: Un ange a ma table; Le lac; Play Boy; Je t’aime tant (with Gwen B. & Suzanne Combo); Bye Bye Valentine; Union War; Le dernier jour – Hidden track; We are the young; Mexicane Syndicate; You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – Au profit de RSF; Republika – Live] 12. Black City Parade (2014) - 7.3/10 [Best songs: College Boy; Memoria; Le messie; Traffic Girl; Thea sonata; Anyway; Nous demain; Kill Nico; Europane ou le dernier bal; College Boy – oLi dE SaT Remix; Black City Parade – Klink Clock Remix; Belfast – The Berlin Mix by Nicola Sirkis; College Boy – Live] 13. 13 (2017) - 8.1/10 [Best songs: 2033; Kimono dans l’ambulance; Suffragettes BB; Un ete francais; Song For a Dream; Cartagene; Gloria (feat. Asia Argento); La 13eme vage] 14. Karma Girls (2019) - 6/10 [Best songs: Karma Girls – Instrumental; Karma Mix] 15. Babel Babel (2024) - 8.8/10 [Best songs: L’amour fou; Victoria; Le chant des cygnes; Le garcon qui reve; Girlfriend (feat. Marion Brunetto); Les nouveaux soleilis; Tokyo Boy; Annabelle Lee; Seul au paradis] Average album score: 7.78

Thirteenth Indochine album "13" (2017). Continuing with their new synth sound. I guess its alright as an album. Pretty decent, but I like their previous ones whole lot better.

Twelfth Indochine album "Black City Parade" (2014), which is, I don't know, to my ears it sounds dance-electronic music due to all the synths used and remixes of songs in this album. It's alright, clearly above average, but...

That Heart live cover of Stairway is always a kickass to listen to

Oh, right, Indochine made a cover of You Spin Me Right Round in their "Republic of Meteors" (2009) album (I presume it's a correct translation of it).

Eleventh Indochine album "La republique des Meteors" (2009). Pretty good, probably has the most songs in the album that I liked, on the other hand, it has a truckload of songs in comparison to their other albums, so...

Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru (1952). A movie about a civil servant, who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, and decided since he wasted his life with bureaucracy he has a chance to do something that he actually likes... It was pretty good until the last portion, 8/10

Tenth Indochine album "Alice & June (Deluxe Edition)" (2005). So far, I think song and music wise it is my favourite of them, even though as an album as a whole it might not be that good, but of those songs that I liked - all are bangers.

Well, as they say, different strokes for different blokes 😀 Ninth Indochine album "Paradize" (2002). Pretty good. I'd put it above their 1993 album sorely because it has more songs that I liked, but it's in the 8 out of 10 field for me. Also, it made me wannna look up in the future Melissa Auf der Maur's discog due to the song they sang together.

Maybe, if I grew up with their music or understood French my assessment would be different :P

Eight Indochine album "Dancetaria" (1999). Not as good as the previous two, but decentish. Also, in this they switched-up styles - it's more of a dance album now.

Seventh Indochine album "Wax" (1996). Another of theirs almost 10 out of 10, if not for that one song album. So far, I think I prefer 90s Indochine over 80s Indochine.

Finished re-reading the Fellowship of the Ring today. Yeah, the movie took liberties with the source-material, so in this regard, I can't really understand why some people hate RoP this much, when Peter Jackson was not as faithful to the books as well.

Sixth Indochine album "Un jour dans notre vie" (1993). Pretty good.

Fifth Indochine album "Le baiser" (1990). Almost a ten out of ten, however, has one meh song that I did not like.

Fourth Indochine album "7000 danses" (1987). Average, I'd say on par with their second one.

Third Indochine album "3" (1985). I'd say on par with the first one, but has way more songs that I liked.

So, started Indochine discog. A French electronic music band, I guess. EDIT: Sorry, just wikied it, it's actually French rock new wave band. Never heard of them, but they were on the list of people also listen to on Spotify, so thought what the hell, let's give it a try. Not really my cup of tea music wise, but it's not bad either. Their first album is good, but the second is kinda average, but has more songs that I liked. Indochine "L'aventurier" (1982) and "Le peril jaune" (1983).

Final Ja Rule album "R.U.L.E." (2004). Another average album, albeit probably I liked it the best from his average ones. As always, subjective assessments of each album: 1. Venni, Vetti, Vecci (1999) - 7/10 [Best songs: Let’s Ride; Nigguz Theme; Suicide Freestyle; Count on Your n****; M***a 4 Life; Daddy’s Little Baby; Race Against Time; Only Begotten Son] 2. Rule 3:36 (2000) - 7.5/10 [Best songs: Watching Me; 6 Feet Underground; Love Me, Hate Me; F*** You; Rule Wont Die] 3. Pain is Love (2001) - 6.5/10 [Best songs: Always on Time; Down Ass Bitch; Never Again; I’m Real – Murder Remix; Pain is Love; Put It on Me] 4. The Last Temptation (2002) - 6.9/10 [Best songs: Mesmerize; Murder Reigns; The Warning; Connected; Emerica] 5. Blood in My Eye (2003) - 6.4/10 [Best songs: The Life; Against Time; Niggas & Bitches; Blood in My Eye; The Wrap (Freestyle)] 6. R.U.L.E. (2004) - 6.7/10 [Best songs: Wonderful; New York; The Manual; Get It Started; R.U.L.E.; Gun Talk; Life Goes On; Where I’m From] Average album score: 6.8/10.

Thanks for the feedback, LBC, though I never compared the quality of the two, just noted that Rolling Stones within their 60+ years of career has fewer albums released than SnoopDogg with his 30+ years of career, which I found funny. Dude's been releasing an album a year for many years at this point haha.

Some thoughts about Marvel's Bronze Age comics with cover dates from 1970 to 1974:

Penultimate Ja Rule album "Blood in My Eye" (2003). Pretty average. And, I'm guessing, the song Things Are Gonna Change prompted Eminem to release his own disstrack against Ja.