Various - King Tubbys Presents Soundclash Dubplate Style: 8 (A-)

Volume 2 is the instrumentals. Only issuance of this in the CD era is a Japanese import, which is probably a needle drop. [1988]

Jon Langford & The Men of Gwent - President of Wales: 7.5 (high B+)

Apparently, there were a few copies pressed to CD, but they appear to have been snatched up pretty quickly.

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers: 8 (A-)

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers - Jonathan Sings!: 8 (A-)

Proteje - Ancient Future [honorable mention]

:-) Might be 7 (B+), but no reasonably-priced used copies available anyway.

Bad Moves - Wearing out the Refrain: 7 (B+)

# [indie pop] Outstanding track: "A Lapse in the Emptiness"

Bembeya Jazz National - Bembeya Jazz National [placeholder]

I'm not sure how to grade this. They picked the obvious, greatest songs to put on African Classics/Classic Titles. See below. Remaining tracks are honorable mention or 7 (B+)? [Disques Esperance, 1993]

1 Telegramme                AC/CT

2 Lan Naya                    AC/CT

3 Moussokoro               OK NOT AC/CT

4 Sukabe                       OK NOT AC/CT

5 Gbapie                       EH NOT AC/CT

6 Yekeke                       AC/CT

7 Sabu                           AC/CT

8 Koumba Tenin           AC/CT

9 Yelema Yelemaso      EH NOT AC/CT

10 Yarabi                      AC/CT

Jon Langford & The Men of Gwent - Lost on Land & Sea: 8.5 (high A-)

Jon Langford & The Men of Gwent: The Legend of LL: 7.5 (high B+)

Digital- and vinyl-only

Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia: 8.5 (high A-)

Christgau thinks this is their "dullest" album. I think it's their best, and not dull. I do, however, think he's become quite dull himself.

Dim Stars - Dim Stars [EP]: 7 (B+)

Unusual issuance. Only US version is 3x7" (?). Putting aside that, the 12", and the reissue on Caroline in a clunky jewel box, you're left with the original UK issue on Ecstatic Peace, but it's nowhere to be found. There does appear to be another UK release on Paperhouse (?), but the prices on that for a 4-song EP at this grade (nothing historic) are ludicrous. So I'll be skipping this. [1991]

Wimps - City Lights [honorable mention]

:-) Could be a 7 (B+) but # [indie-pop] anyway.

The Clean - Mister Pop [honorable mention]

:-)

Tokyo Police Club - Champ: 8 (A-)

Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell: 8 (A-)

Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson in Crime: 8 (A-)

A great post-post-punk EP. We love EPs.

The Hard Quartet - The Hard Quartet

:-|

Coco & Clair Clair - Girl [EP]: 7.5 (high B+)

 

At barely 24 minutes and 9 tracks, I'm calling this an EP. # [r&b] Vinyl- and digital-only anyway.

Bembeya Jazz National - Classic Titles [aka African Classics]: 9 (A)

Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore - TexiCali: 7.5 (high B+)

# [country]

Thurston Moore - Flow Critical Lucidity [honorable mention]

:-)

Harold Budd - The Pavilion of Dreams

:-|

Chappell Roan - The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess: 7.5 (high B+)

# [synth-pop]

Slayer - Live: Decade of Aggression: 7.5 (high B+)

Normally this would be # [live] but I made an exception.

Slayer - Reign in Blood: 8 (A-)