Diary of a Melomaniac
Before Nov 2020, grades range from 5 stars to 3.5 stars. After that, grade range is: 10 (A+), 9.5 (high A), 9 (A), 8.5 (high A-), 8 (A-), 7.5 (high B+), 7 (B+). Ungraded albums are honorable mention :-), neutral :-|, negative :-(. At least 3 listens per album. Search "Grade Post" for more info. [I shelved/sold 10,000-12,000 albums before starting this blog and will add entries for some of those as they come up. If you don't see an album, it doesn't mean I don't know it.]
Sunday, June 23, 2024
Thomas Anderson - Blues for the Flying Dutchman: 8 (A-)
Best cover image I could find for this one. I'm trusting Christgau's ears on this artist, but note that Tom Hull likes alot more of his records at the A- level, so I hope I get around to listening to those one day.
Big Black - Racer-X [EP]: 8.5 (high A-)
I have this on vinyl and remastered on CD as part of The Hammer Party reissue, with the Lungs and Bulldozer EPs.
Saturday, June 22, 2024
Nick Lowe - Basher: The Best of Nick Lowe: 8 (A-)
This is how I solve the "Nick Lowe" problem: After the first 2 must-haves, what to do about the following 5 good but not great releases? Not counting the single track from Nick the Knife (which probably edges in as an 8 (A-) and only has 1 (so-so) track on this), this gives you the following number of tracks from the other 4 (and 7 from debut; 7 from follow-up; 1 from Rockpile):
The Abominable Showman - 2 tracks
Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit - 2 tracks
The Rose of England - 4 tracks
Pinker and Prouder Than Previous - 1 track
Presumably, I will rate these 7 (B+) or 7.5 (high B+) but # [pub rock]. But we shall see.
Radiohead - My Iron Lung [EP]: 8 (A-)
I purchased the US edition which, unknown to me, contains only 5 of the 7 tracks that appear on "fuller" editions (some have 8? some extra version of "Creep"). Turns out the extra 2 tracks ("Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong" and "Lozenge of Love") make it less of an EP, and are just acoustic ditties which would bring the grade down a notch, while the 4 tracks on the US edition are actual songs which sound great and clock in at 17 minutes (perfect), so I think I ended up with the right edition by accident and I'll be keeping it.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Radiohead - Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] and No Surprises/Running from Demons [EP] [placeholder]
Purchased as part of the reissue OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017. Significant overlap between these 2 EPs. And "Bishop's Robes" (which I have heard) is the only track on these 2 EPs not on the OK Computer reissue. For reference, here are the tracks:
"Meeting in the Aisle"
"Melatonin"
"A Reminder"
"Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)"
"Pearly"
"Palo Alto"
"How I Made My Millions"
The first 3 songs on the second disc of the reissue appear only there. The other extra song, "Lull," was a B-side to the "Karma Police" single.
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Minor Threat - Complete Discography: 8 (A-)
Contains the EPs Minor Threat, In My Eyes, and Salad Days, plus the "album" (at 22 minutes, really just a fourth EP) Out of Step. It also has their 2-song contribution to the Flex Your Head comp.
Rites of Spring - End on End: 7.5 (high B+)
Contains the first album, Rites of Spring (which confusingly has the same cover as this), and the EP, All Through a Life. Basically their entire body of recorded work.
Fishmans - Long Season: 7 (B+)
# [Japanese indie] I have also heard this album's sole track, "Long Season," on the live album, 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare. So, studio version of this, 3 listens, plus live version, one listen.
Jay-Z/Linkin Park - Collision Course [EP]: 7 (B+)
# [DVD/CD sets] Not as bad as everyone would have you believe. But only available as a thick CD/DVD digipack (that is, with 2 discs), not as a simple music-only CD. And also, for this reason, overpriced.
Mayhem - Deathcrush [EP]: 7 (B+)
# [black metal] I almost made an exception, given its "historical" importance, but it's really not available in the proper format at the proper price. [At least 7 listens]
Sunday, June 9, 2024
James Carter - Layin' in the Cut: 8 (A-)
Almost a "fusion/popular" album. But I'll still put it on my tiny jazz shelf with The Real Quietstorm and Conversin' with the Elders.
Saturday, June 8, 2024
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