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, March 7, 2015

Maloko - Soul on Fire: 8 (A-)

http://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/e/estacio_pick/20100130/20100130222754.jpg

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The Magnetic Fields - "23 Love Songs": 10 (A+)

Playlist is below. I rate the full set of 69 Love Songs 9 (A). As for my other prime divisor, my top three songs are highlighted. Burned this one to disc and shelved it in a slim case. Spotify playlist is here. Please enjoy.

1. "Absolutely Cuckoo"
2. "I Don't Believe in the Sun"
3. "All My Little Words"
4. "A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off"
5. "I Don't Want to Get Over You"
6. "The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be"
7. "I Think I Need a New Heart"
8. "Sweet-Lovin' Man"
9. "When My Boy Walks Down the Street"
10. "No One Will Ever Love You"
11. "You're My Only Home"
12. "(Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy"
13. "World Love"
14. "Long-Forgotten Fairytale"
15. "Papa Was a Rodeo"
16. "Epitaph for My Heart"
17. "The Sun Goes Down and the World Goes Dancing"
18. "Abigail, Belle of Kilronan"
19. "Busby Berkeley Dreams"
20. "The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure"
21. "Yeah! Oh, Yeah!"
22. "I Can't Touch You Anymore
23. "How To Say Goodbye"

Sunday, March 1, 2015

The Bottle Rockets - The Brooklyn Side: 10 (A+)

The Bottle Rockets - Bottle Rockets: 8 (A-)

Van Morrison - Common One: 7.5 (high B+)

After significantly more than three listens, I finally get this one. A good friend and mentor of mine highly recommended it to me decades ago, and I've never forgotten his enthusiasm for it. I kept trying over the years until it finally clicked. Of course, now it's OOP and selling for seriously over-inflated prices. Update: Found a copy for a good price in 2025 and went for it.