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.
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Beats International - Let Them Eat Bingo [Elektra, 1990]: 8 (A-)
I admit to rebuying this. Took me a long time to catch up with it. I guess Norman Cook is a little ahead of me. The face of melomania.
Friday, July 24, 2026
The Apples in Stereo - batch review
I de-shelved all of the following, as #indiepop, even though I at one point thought I should keep them, so they must have hit me as 7 (B+) or 7.5 (high B+), probably the former:
Tone Soul Evolution
The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone
New Magnetic Wonder
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral: 7 (B+)
Docked a notch for bloat. Btw, normally this band would be #electronic, but since they are essentially a cross-over, I don't give them that designation and collect them at B-level grades.
Peter Laughner - Take the Guitar Player for a Ride: liked
His best Dylan impersonation - as far as the solo tracks. The Friction, Finns, and Rocket from the Tombs tracks are a different story. Good cover of Richard Thompson's "Calvary Cross."
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
Golden Sounds Band - Swahili Rumba [Naxos World, 2003]: 8 (A-)
Not sure why this is so unheralded. An hour of excellent Kenyan soukous, essentially. Thanks, Muzikifan.
Monday, July 20, 2026
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Lifers Group - Lifers Group [Hollywood EP, 1991]: 8 (A-)
Motorhead - Overkill: 7 (B+)
As noted elsewhere, I consider this band to be at least as much punk as #metal, so I have a copy. The legendary Jimmy Miller produced, so I wanted to like it much more than I have ever been able to.
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