Diary of a Melomaniac: November 2017

Friday, November 24, 2017

George Jones - Walls Can Fall: 7 (B+)

# [country]

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: 8 (A-)

Initially determined to skip this one at 7.5 (high B+) and # [anti-folk], but given Christgau's 9 (A), and that it's the only studio album of his that Tom Hull has given any variety of A grade to, I listened one more time and resolved to raise it to 8 (A-) and get 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"

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 [all of which are accordingly on my wantlist]:

Esperant Kisangani de Langa-Langa Stars ‎– Bokila
Teddy Sukami de Zaiko Langa Langa ‎– Anytha-Ngapy Equateur
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 – Accompagne par Les Soukouss-Time

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