Friday, January 23, 2026
Jimmy Cliff - Struggling Man: 7 (B+)
Never given a modern reissue, so I will stick with the majority of tracks from this that are represented on Classic Jimmy Cliff.
Jimmy Cliff - Classic Jimmy Cliff: The Universal Masters Collection [Island, 2001]: 8.5 (high A-)
This European release was the winner in a 4-way showdown between (1) this compilation, (2) the regular issues Wonderful World, Beautiful People [aka Jimmy Cliff] [A&M, 1970] and Struggling Man [Island, 1973], (3) the compilation The Best of Jimmy Cliff [Island, 1975], and (4) a compilation similarly-titled to this one called 20th Century Masters: The Best of Jimmy Cliff: The Millennium Collection [Universal, 2004]. The two regular issues were never given modern remasters, plus, this compilation contains all but four tracks from each of those two (so it's really a condensation of those two plus a couple singles and some tracks also on The Harder They Come). There's alot of overlap between this one and the 1975 Best of, but I like this one better, because the unique songs on this one (ignoring the songs on The Harder They Come) are all more songs from the two regular issues, while the 1975 Best of gives you one other song from WWBP ("Sufferin' in the Land") and these:
"Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow"
"Another Cycle"
"Synthetic World"
"I'm No Immigrant"
"Give and Take"
"Goodbye Yesterday"
And that just leaves 20th Century Masters, which is super short, so it's good for that reason, but it contains "Bongo Joe," and if I really think both those regular issues are 7 (B+), I should go for the release that has the majority of their tracks.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Monday, January 19, 2026
Ray West & Kool Keith - A Couple of Slices: 7 (B+)
Allegedly on CD, but the one or two copies that appear to be available are asking for astronomical prices, so I won't even bother putting this on a wantlist. If they reissue it in physical one day, maybe I'll pick it up. Anyway, Kool Keith I'm not sure has ever put his name on anything that's not worth hearing.
Cat Power - What Would the Community Think: liked
Very irritating how it is mixed as a soft, quiet album, which forces you to turn it up to a fairly high volume to hear what is going on in the mix, and then when she starts shrieking or they amp up the guitars for a half a minute or so, it comes as a very unwelcome assault on the listener. It's like listening to a very soft talker, and when you lean over to get your ear closer to her to hear what she is saying, she suddenly starts shrieking in your ear sporadically.
Various - The Akron Compilation [Stiff, 1978]: 7 (B+)
Somewhat spotty compilation of the late 1970s Akron sound. Strangely never issued in the United States, it seems. #multiartistcomp
electric eels – The Eyeball of Hell: liked
I’m proud of myself for giving all of this (at one hour and eleven minutes) three good listens. I’d like to up it a notch for their commitment level, but that would mean that I’d have to listen to it again, and I can’t bring myself to expend another hour plus on that. I did play the shorter compilation Die Electric Eels once though, which is almost the same thing (most of the songs on that one are on here). Anyway, excellent for driving the wife and children out of the room.
Rocket From the Tombs - Rocket Redux: liked
Possibly a 7 (B+), but too expensive and #miscarticles, really, to worry about even if it was.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
The Delfonics - La-La Means I Love You: The Definitive Collection: 7.5 (high B+)
The shorter one, The Very Best of/Platinum & Gold, gets a bump up. See separate post on that. #best of
Lupe Fiasco - Fahrenheit 1/15 Part II: Revenge of the Nerds: liked
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