Diary of a Melomaniac
Before 11/2020, grades range from 5 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+), and 7 (B+). Ungraded albums are noted as liked :-) (honorable mention), neutral :-|, and disliked :-(. At least 4 listens per graded album and 3 listens per ungraded album. Search "Grade Post" for more info. I sold/shelved ~10,000 albums after at least 3 or 4 listens, respectively, before starting this blog and will add entries for those as they arise.
Friday, August 21, 2026
Schoolboy Q - Blue Lips: liked
I was wavering between "liked" and 7 (B+) on a fourth play and decided to round down on account of what I perceived of as some bloat and/or a few seriously weak tracks. Was a double album really necessary in this case? Physicals are available however, for semi-reasonable prices.
Nandipha808 - No Vocal Album: liked
Docked two notches for extreme bloat (2 hr 10 min -- so, a triple album) and torturous repetitiveness. Release is #nophysical anyway. Four plays.
The Fall - The Marshall Suite: liked
Definitely degrades as it goes along. Might be a 7 (B+), but so expensive used that I’m not even going to try to make that determination.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Friday, August 14, 2026
Kool Keith & H Bomb - 7th Veil [Sickbay EP, 2005]: liked
Two versions of "What's Up Now," together with "Frontin" and "Truth & Determination."
The Strokes - Future Present Past EP [Cult EP, 2016]: 7.5 (high B+)
Vinyl-only. I would buy the 10-inch vinyl, but used copies are being price-gouged, and I wasn’t clever enough to buy it on release.
Los Lobos - Ride This: The Covers EP: liked
Not really an “EP” since it’s 29 min 45 sec. Could be a notch higher, but I don’t think so at this point, and it’s #covers anyway, so I’m not going to sweat the distinction and play again to qualify to make that determination. The cover of the Richard Thompson song strikes me as misguided.
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