Unholy Modal Rounders - Unholier Than Thou 7/7/77 [Don Giovanni, 2024]: 8 (A-)

 

The Fall - Cerebral Caustic: 8 (A-)

Albert Hammond Jr. - AHP [EP]: liked

:-)

Galaxie 500 - On Fire: 8 (A-)

Galaxie 500 - Today: 7.5 (high B+)

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Manfred Mann's Earth Band [Polydor, 1972]: 8 (A-)

Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Sings Walkin' and Talkin' and Other Smash Hits! (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) [2025, Yep Roc]: liked

Twelve-track original issue came out in 2005. This is the reissue with 27 tracks (ie, 15 bonus cuts). The "deluxe" isn't always there in the title. I was actually not up to "liked" after the third play, but on the fourth, I found it growing on me very slightly. But not enough to keep listening - fairly certain it would never go above one, at the absolute most two, notches, and it would still be #blues/r&b.

Rory Block - Heavy on the Blues: 7 (B+)

#blues

Dolly Parton - Ultimate Dolly Parton: 7.5 (high B+)

#country/bestof

Tipps and Obermiller - Little-Kid Heart: 7 (B+)

#folk/country/americana

Willie Nelson - Workin' Man: Willie Sings Merle [Legacy, 2025]: 8 (A-)

Boogie Down Productions - Edutainment [Jive, 1990]: 7.5 (high B+)

Speaking of not being able to fathom a Christgau grade (which is extremely rare with me), his "bomb" designation for this is a mystery to me. Hull's B+ is much more like it. There are definitely some duds on this, but overall, it works. Docked a notch for bloat.

The Coup - batch review

I have had the following on the shelf for many years, which means they range from 7 (B+) to 8 (A-) (I don't think I ever thought any of them were above that grade). I will grade them one day if and when I listen to them again:

     Genocide & Juice

     Steal This Album

     Party Music

     Pick a Bigger Weapon

Neil Young & the Chrome Hearts - As Time Explodes: 7 (B+)

I cannot fathom how Christgau got to 10 (A+) on this. Normally, this would be #live, but it's Neil, and of course I am always hesitant to second-guess Christgau.

Fairport Convention - Fairport Chronicles: notation

Ignoring one trifle, Fairport Chronicles has the following unique songs not on Meet on the Ledge:

     "Listen, Listen" (a Sandy Denny song)

     "Bridge Over the River Ash" (without Richard Thompson)

     "My Girl the Month of May"

     "Million Dollar Bash"

     "The Way I Feel"

     "Learning the Game"

Versus the following unique songs on Meet on the Ledge that are not on Fairport Chronicles:

     "Chelsea Morning"

     "Mr. Lacey"

     "Book Song"

     "A Sailor's Life"

     "Matty Groves"

     "Crazy Man Michael"

     "Bonny Bunch of Roses"

     "Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman"

     "Journeyman's Grace"

     "John Lee"

     "Rosie"

     "The Plainsman"

     "The Hexhamshire Lass"

     "Polly on the Shore"

     "Bring 'Em Down"

     "Rising for the Moon"

     "White Dress"

     "Stranger to Himself"

     "One More Chance"

I wanted to listen to the unique songs on Chronicles four times, just to be thorough, but I couldn't find most of them, and since there are so few of them, I just skipped that. Separate post on Ledge to come eventually. Very nice copies of Chronicles are available for excellent prices, but I had to resist the temptation, for just six songs.

Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking: 8 (A-)

Bootsy Collins - What's Bootsy Doin'?: 8 (A-)

Yohimbe Brothers - The Tao of Yo: 8 (A-)

Yohimbe Brothers - Front End Lifter: 8 (A-)

Dolly Parton - My Tennessee Mountain Home: 7 (B+)

#country

Mary Lee's Corvette - Blood on the Tracks (Arlene Grocery, NYC) [Bar/None, 2002]: 7 (B+)

Not only did I listen to this the requisite four times before arriving at this grade, I saw a January 21, 2025 re-performance of the entire album by her and a band (I don't think it's the same guys) on YouTube and listened to that once too. This 2001 performance definitely has more to recommend it. #live/covers

Dolly Parton - Jolene: 7.5 (high B+)

#country

Madonna - Confessions II: 8.5 (high A-)

Ramones - Halfway to Sanity: liked

Doesn’t seem nearly as bad as most sources make it out to be.

Miles Davis - You’re Under Arrest: 7 (B+)

Very mid-eighties, with shiny synthesizers and slick production. Graced by some pretty good guitar from John McLaughlin though. I think it’s he, but it could be John Scofield, who plays on it too. Either way, some good guitar. #jazz