Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Devotional and Love Songs: 8 (A-)

Not to be confused with Devotional Songs, with a very similar cover:

Devotional and Love Songs has five of the six songs on Devotional Songs, plus five more songs (presumably, the "love" songs). Both were released on Real World in 1992.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Intoxicated Spirit: 8 (A-)

Alpha Blondy - Revolution: 7.5 (high B+)

The Mighty Clouds of Joy - It's Time: 8.5 (high A-)

I agree with Christgau that this is one of the best albums to come out of Philly during the classic era. I overlooked it for many years because I thought it was gospel, which is understandable but still wrong. I have a nice vinyl copy.

Dillinger - Cocaine [Charly, 1983]: notation

This album is listed as a main album on AllMusic and receives some good star ratings, but it appears to be a compilation re-released many times throughout the years with different track counts, titles and covers. It almost seems like the conflated fictitious self-image of a narcotics-addled discography. Given all the smoke and the title track, I presume Dillinger is no stranger to freebasing. The title track appears to be a re-recording. The original issue in 1982/1983 has 9 or 10 tracks, only two of which (other than the title track) are on Ultimate Collection and The Prime of Dillinger. Update: I actually found this on Spotify and will give it some plays to see what it is. For some reason, it doesn't turn up in his artist folder, but it's on Spotify and can be found in other ways. Weird.

Dillinger - CB 200: 8 (A-)

Blondie - Eat to the Beat: 8 (A-)

The Murmurs - Pristine Smut: 7 (B+)

# indie pop

Blondie - Parallel Lines: 8.5 (high A-)

The Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol. 8: Harpur College, Binghamton, NY, May 2, 1970: liked

I'm breaking protocol and posting the cover anyway, because this show seems beloved by so many (and I also like the cover). But the acoustic set seems a little boring to me during three good listens, and the solos on the electric sets are the kind that look good on the outside but are empty on the inside. I think having Keith Godchaux in the mix brought out the best in Jerry Garcia, and I loved what Donna's vocals did for the band. She wasn't just a beautiful face, although I think sometimes people denigrate her that way.

Flipper - Sex Bomb Baby: 9 (A)

I kind of wish I had a copy with the original cover, but this will do.

Flipper - Album - Generic Flipper: 9.5 (high A)

Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Heart [Arista, 1976]: 8.5 (high A-)

I cannot understand why this album gets so much hate. They literally didn't even bother to list it in the last Rolling Stone album guide. Huh? I stayed away from it for so many years because of this hate. Oh well, I guess I get to appreciate a new Lou Reed album in my old age now that he's gone, so it got saved for me for a late life surprise (I was 10 when it was released, so, not on my radar at the time). I like listening to it and getting locked into a friendly staredown with Lou. I'm sure everyone feels this way, and I'm sure it's completely self-delusional and maybe even vain, but I like to think he and I would have gotten along, if I had ever been cool enough to get close to him. I feel the same way about his brilliant final wife. What a couple.

The Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol. 3: Pembroke Pines, Florida, May 22, 1977: 7.5 (high B+)

This doesn’t contain the entire show. I listened to the release at least three times and the entire show on Internet Archive once. They seem to have done a pretty good job of editing out the less-than-great songs from the show. # [live]

James Brown - Soul Classics/Soul Classics Volume II: notation

I'd like to get these because they look so cool, but they are too expensive.

The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile: 8 (A-)

I have this on a twofer with Wild Honey.

The Beach Boys - Wild Honey: 8 (A-)

I actually have this on a twofer with Smiley Smile, and I believe I also have it on vinyl (I'm too tired to go upstairs and confirm I still have it).

The Beach Boys - Endless Summer: 8.5 (high A-)

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds: 8 (A-)

James Blood Ulmer - Odyssey: 8 (A-)

Lady Gaga - Artpop: 8 (A-)

Warren Zevon - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology): 8 (A-)

Warren Zevon - Mr. Bad Example: liked

:-)

Jeffrey Lewis - The Even More Freewheelin’ Jeffrey Lewis: 7.5 (high B+)

Apparently on CD, but I can't seem to find it anywhere.

KC and the Sunshine Band: Part 3: 7.5 (high B+)

I'm in the market for this as part of the Original Album Series.