King Sunny Ade and His African Beats - Ajoo: 7 (B+)

 

# [juju]

Papa Wemba, Modogo Gian Franco Ferre et L'Orchestre Viva La Musica - Le Jour J (Nouvelle Generation A Paris) [liked]

:-)

Modogo Gian Franco Ferre & Papa Wemba & L'Orchestre Viva La Musica - Place Vendome La Nouvelle Generation: 8 (A-)

Shockabilly - Greatest Hits [EP] [placeholder]

I wouldn't mind hearing this if it ever surfaces anywhere. The first four tracks are live (two covers and two originals), and the last two tracks are recorded versions previously available. I listened to the latter, and don't much care about them. But this EP is apparently known for those first four live tracks, which I cannot find anywhere to stream. Well, I did find one of the tracks, and it convinced me not to lay out any money just to evaluate the rest of them. But if I see it anywhere, I'll check it out.

Taylor Swift - Fearless: 8 (A-)

Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up: 7 (B+)

Grade is for the 7-song, 30 minute EP which this adds to Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which I already own. I'm not buying the album again to get the new EP at this grade, especially at full price. Release it as an EP.

Robert Sarazin Blake - Let the Longing Run Wild & Free: 7.5 (high B+)

# [folk; artisanal release]

Nicki Minaj - Pinkprint: 8 (A-)

This is the standard edition. Christgau maintains that the 3 extra songs on the deluxe edition are “album-defining” – I listened to them 3x each and don’t agree. The standard edition is fine.

Neil Young - Prairie Wind: 7 (B+)

Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology [liked]

:-) [Same designation for either disc, although the second disk does seem a hair better]

Ale Hop & Titi Bakorta - Mapambazuko: 7 (B+)

Vinyl-only [Only 6 tracks (3 remixes are tacked on at the end) and 23 minutes long, so actually an EP]

Sleater-Kinney - Little Rope [liked]

:-)

Ben Watt with Robert Wyatt - Summer into Winter [EP] [liked]

:-)

Rosie Tucker - Never Not Never Not Never Not: 7 (B+)

Limited edition vinyl-only

King Sunny Ade - Odu: 7 (B+)

# [juju]

Takkak Takkak - Takkak Takkak [liked]

:-)

Julie Brown - Goddess in Progress [EP] [liked]

# [comedy] Included cover and justification anyway, not sure why.

Slim Harpo - The Best of Slim Harpo: X stars

I won't try to grade this, because I feel unqualified, but I have it because of the Stones connection, and I like it.

Mike Cooley/Patterson Hood/Jason Isbell: Live at the Shoals Theater: 7 (B+)

# [live]

The Jacksons - Triumph: 8 (A-)

I have this as part of the Original Album Classics box.

The Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine: 8 (A-)

I have this as part of the 4 Original Albums box.

The Jacksons - Victory: 8 (A-)

I have this as part of the Original Album Classics box.

The Jacksons - Destiny: 8 (A-)

I have this as part of the Original Album Classics box.

The Jackson 5 - ABC: 8 (A-)

I have this as part of the 4 Original Albums box.

Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom: 8 (A-)