Journal of a Melomaniac: November 2017

Friday, November 24, 2017

George Jones - Walls Can Fall: 3.5 stars

I think I'm going to skip shelving this late-period Jones, which means I stop with the studio albums in 1980 with I Am What I Am.

A. Savage - Thawing Dawn: 7.5 (high B+)

Could very well be 8 (A-), but I don't have to parse that out because it's digital-only. [4 listens]

Hamell on Trial - Tackle Box: 4 stars

Originally determined to skip this one at B plus, but given Christgau's full A, and that it's the only album of his that Tom Hull has given any variety of A grade to, I listened one more time and determined to raise it to A minus and get it, and then probably sell one or more of the other albums of his that I have to subsidize the purchase. I think Christgau overrates him as much as he does Jinx Lennon. But maybe one day I'll hear it.

Paul Kelly - Greatest Hits: Songs From the South Volumes 1 & 2 [placeholder]

# [folk rock] I haven't listened enough to all 40 songs to grade this, in my view, oversized collection. But I have listened adequately to what Christgau identified as the top 15 (see below) and would give those an 8 (A-). I should probably listen to the other 25 some more. Nine tracks, or 60%, of the 15 Christgau identified are on Volume 1 (bolded below), which came out separately first, but I agree with Christgau that the other 11 songs on that 20 track album don't measure up.

"Everything's Turning to White"

"Bradman"

"To Her Door"

"Every F---ing City"

"Sweet Guy"

"From Little Things Big Things Grow"

"How to Make Gravy"

"They Thought I Was Asleep"

"When First I Met Your Ma"

"Deeper Water"

"Dumb Things"

"Song of the Old Rake"

"Be Careful What You Pray For"

"Shane Warne"

"The Oldest Story in the Book"

Saturday, November 11, 2017

As a reader could tell from prior posts (if anyone actually read this blog), I have great admiration for Diblo. I have listened to almost every album he is listed as working on, except for a few I could not find anywhere. Obviously, almost none of them are even remotely findable on physical, thus saving me a ton of money, because most of them are at least good, many great. For the record, here's what I heard at least 3 times. More is forthcoming in individual reviews, because I could find them on Napster. Also listened to one-offs and single tracks too numerous to list. Obviously this represents hours upon hours of listening.

Worth getting, if available:

Esperant Kisangani de Langa-Langa Stars ‎– Bokila
Teddy Sukami de Zaiko Langa Langa ‎– Anytha-Ngapy Equateur
Matchatcha ‎– Aimer La Danse Nyekesse
Bouesso M'Bemba ‎– Fafikide
Lisanga ‎– Africa-Force Unie Vol. 1
Docteur Limanne ‎– Docteur Limanne
Bicko Tcheke & Coyabile Star Band – More Soukous
Ballou Canta & Soukouss-Stars ‎– Ballou Canta & Soukouss-Stars
Ballou Canta – Ballou Canta
Aurlus Mabele et Le Groupe Loketo ‎– Embargo [Actually this one has Dally Kimoko on guitar, but I include it here since it's Diblo's group. Same as King of Soukous.]

Probably could skip:

Pepe Kalle ‎– Chante Le Poète Simaro Massiya [programmed drums]
Mav Cacharel ‎– Chanti Die!
Shaba ‎– Eddy'Son Presente Shaba
Dany Engobo et Les Coeurs Brises ‎– Les Coeurs Brises
Flaisha Mani ‎– Nsah [was able to hear much, but not all, of this]
Diblo Dibala & Le Groupe Matchatcha ‎– O.K. Madame
Fafa De Molokai & Olomide ‎– Dieu Voit Tout
Otis Mbuta et Matchatcha ‎– Otis Mbuta et Matchatcha
Bouanga Fulgence ‎– Mele N° Modjia [was able to hear 75% of this]
Empire Bakuba – Bakuba Show [not sure why I believe Diblo was on this particular album]
Jena Manda Ko ‎– Likita
Bernard Deloumeaux & S. Surinon - Defoule'ou