# [country]
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Saturday, August 19, 2023
Local Boys - Moments of Madness: 7.5 (high B+)
With Andy Fairweather Low. I have a vinyl promo copy in great shape. Only ever released once, on vinyl and cassette. Today, I would probably note this as #bluesrock or something, but since I have it I'll keep it.
Public Image Ltd. - This Is Not a Love Song [EP] [Virgin, 1983]: 8.5 (high A-)
Four-song EP, listed as a "single" in some places for some reason. I guess because it's a variation on the actual single with only "This Is Not a Love Song" b/w "Public Image." I guess it's really a "maxi-single." My friend Ray thinks "Public Image" is the greatest rock and roll song of all time. And he is a Rolling Stones fanatic. Christgau has this as being entitled PiL.
Big Stick - Some of the Best of Big Stick [EP]: notation
Tracks from Hoochie Koo Time [EP], Crack 'n' Drag [combined EPs], Hedonist Chariot, and LP. This was a bonus CD included with the album LP. There was an independently-released, full-length best of, called Much of the Best of Big Stick, from which this was drawn. That one is vinyl-only. Since only the EP is on Spotify, and the full-length is vinyl-only, and I have heard (or will hear) all of the source material, I didn't take the time to try to create a playlist of the full-length and grade it (or the EP).
Public Image Ltd. – “Death Disco” b/w “No Birds Do Sing” [single]: notation
“Death Disco” is “Swan Lake” from Metal Box/Second Edition, and “No Birds Do Sing” is “No Birds” from same.
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Legend: 7 (B+)
# [odds and ends] Might even buy this one if it were remastered and selling for a good price.
Public Image Ltd. - Don't Ask Me [EP]: notation
“Don’t Ask Me,” otherwise not on any album I can find, joined by “Warrior” from 9 and “Rules and Regulations” from Happy. I guess I could grade “Don’t Ask Me” – probably "liked." Not sure of this EP's reason for being, or why I even chose it to evaluate.
Drag Racing Underground [Big Stick] - Hedonist Chariot [Albertine, 1991]: 7 (B+)
Oop and unavailable at reasonable prices used. This appears to be the only full-length released by Big Stick, under a different name for whatever reason, during what is as near as I can tell to their “prime” (1985-1993) (okay, there’s Pro Drag (1995) too, not sure whether to count that, but probably). It appears to include the entire mini-album Hoochie Koo Time, plus numerous other tracks. Grade is for the other tracks.
New Model Army - History: The Best of: 8 (A-)
Strong compilation, but I went with the Original Album Series collection, which has all the albums from which this draws and is probably more than I need. [Previously issued as History: The Singles 85–91 with a different cover.]
Friday, August 18, 2023
Greymatter and Buck 65 - Johnny Rockwell Meets Henry Krinkle: 7.5 (high B+)
Apparently, a handmade tape sold only at one show, with maybe less than 20 copies in existence.
Friday, August 11, 2023
The Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man: 7.5 (high B+)
# [folk rock] Very nearly 8 (A-), but the tracks other than the ones we all know and love are notably lesser songs. Anyway, there are only first generation transfers and later remasters cluttered with alternate versions etc.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Nastyfacts - Drive My Car [EP] [honorable mention]
:-) [$15 shipped for 3 songs in 8 minutes. A bit of a retread too.]
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Cypress Hill - Elephants on Acid [BMG, 2018]: 7.5 (high B+)
Great cover/title/concept. For some reason, a copy cannot be found for a reasonable price, despite this being only five years old. I'll keep an eye out. Update (December 2025): Downgraded from 8 (A-) upon further plays - spotty. Took alert down, given how ridiculously expensive copies of this are for a 2018 album at this grade.
Shirati Jazz - Benga Beat: 7.5 (high B+)
Without D.O. Misiani anyway. #benga Update: Ended up buying it, because I found a pristine copy for a good price and added it for free shipping from a great seller.
The Go-Betweens - The Peel Sessions [EP]: 7 (B+)
I could have sworn I had this, or graded it, but I can't find anything on it. Oh well. I have most of their work, and one day will get around to posting on them. Great band. #live
Billy Woods and Kenny Segal - Maps: 7 (B+)
This was issued on "limited edition" CD (and other formats), which quickly sold out and now is nowhere to be found. [Actually, Amazon has a few copies, but they are selling at a "limited edition" price, which I will not pay at this grade.]
The Leaving Trains - Loser Illusion Pt. 0 [EP]: 8.5 (high A-)
Outstanding track: "Rock'n'Roll Murder"
Saint Etienne - Words and Music: 8 (A-)
Despite this being #import, I tried to buy this three times. The first order was cancelled. The next two, from different sellers, sent the wrong album. Very weird. I have literally never received the wrong album in my life, despite ordering 1000s of them online. Anyway, I give up with this one.
Minutemen - The Punch Line: 7 (B+)
Supposedly their first "album" -- sold at full price -- even though it is only 15 minutes long. I have skipped the debut studio albums (ie, not EPs (2 by the Minutemen, 1 by the Meat Puppets) or live ones (Husker Du)) by the Minutemen (The Punch Line), the Meat Puppets (Meat Puppets), and Husker Du (Everything Falls Apart). All 15-20 minute basically hardcore blurs, in one way or the other.
