Peters out a little towards the end. Not really an anti-folk guy, so this won't be going on the shelves.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
The Bundles - The Bundles: 3.5 stars
Peters out a little towards the end. Not really an anti-folk guy, so this won't be going on the shelves.
Defao - Bana Congo Vol. 2: 7 (B+)
Not the dance mix Christgau gave a B+ to. That one's impossible to find though, so this will have to do. [Found in March 2023]
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Daddy Issues - Can We Still Hang: 3.5 stars
Standard-issue girl punk. Not going in the collection for stated reasons, but nice.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Friday, May 19, 2017
Anna Domino - East and West: 8.5 (high A-)
Blakroc - Blakroc: 4 stars
Man, did this get overlooked. On the other hand, physicals are ridiculously over-priced, so I'm not going for it.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Rigo [Ringo] Star - Ne Refuse Pas: 8 (A-)
The album looks to be called Star but is often listed as Ne Refuse Pas, the name of the lead and longest track. Anyway, this appears to be his first solo album, and it has Diblo Dibala listed as playing guitar as well as Rigo. This has to be one of the earliest appearance of Diblo on record (1985), aside from the Aurlus Mabele and Kanda Bongo Man albums. Anyway, it is the same year Diblo recorded the incomparable "Malika" on Ami Eh! Bougez!, so he was clearly on fire at the time. Tried to find this on vinyl (never reissued) for a reasonable price and could not. The sebenes are classic, although the underlying songs are all pretty empty vehicles therefor. [I now have this on my wantlist.]
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Friday, May 12, 2017
Matt North - Above Ground Fools: 3.5 stars
If you like country more than a little, which is all I can usually muster, you will probably think this is an A-. But for me a B+ and not going in the collection.
James Blood [Ulmer] - Tales of Captain Black: 8 (A-)
Upped a notch upon further listens. Really kind of an acquired taste. I found a sealed copy from the first pressing for a reasonable price and went for it. It's beautiful.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Khaled - Sahra: 8 (A-)
Yes, it's poppier and more Yurropean than N'ssi N'ssi, and so not as good, but little else is.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Wire: A Bell is a Cup ... Until It Is Struck: 4 stars
I would buy this in physical if it were available at reasonable prices. I might eventually download it from somewhere just to put a copy on the shelf as a marker, but 4 out of its 10 tracks are on The A List compilation too. Classic Wire anyway. Wish I were smart enough to understand the horse head/file cabinet juxtaposition. Also, how that relates to a bell. Finally, how the cup-ness of a bell is important. Something to do with objects and context I'm sure. These guys always were beyond me anyhow. Saw them live once in LA, and they were fantastic. Surprisingly threatening though. I wasn't expecting that.
Wire - Snakedrill [EP]: 7 (B+)
Three out of the four songs (all except "Up to the Sun") are on 1985-1990: The A List, which is a must have, so I won't be hunting down old vinyl on this one, especially since it's a 12” EP and very expensive. Never re-released/remastered.
Zaiko Langa Langa - Sans Issue: 7 (B+)
I've always wanted to add some Zaiko to the collection, but it won't be this (recommended by Gary Stewart). Great soukous guitar, but docked at least a notch for bloat. Not selling used for reasonable prices.
Priests - Nothing Feels Natural: 7 (B+)
In the normal course, I would buy this, but it's selling at import prices for some reason. One of those overly-expensive "boutique" releases, not worth it at this grade. Update (May 2026): I still want this years later, so I put an alert up.
