Before Nov 2020, grades range from 5 stars 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+), 7 (B+). Ungraded albums are honorable mention :-), neutral :-|, negative :-(. At least 3 listens per album. Search "Grade Post" for more info. [I shelved/sold 10,000-12,000 albums before starting this blog and will add entries for some of those as they come up. If you don't see an album, it doesn't mean I don't know it.]
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Various Artists - The Concert for Bangladesh: 3.5 stars
Unlike many, I think this concert is fairly good, but not because of the 5 Dylan songs, which I find a little on the boring side. I also am not a huge fan of the Shankar piece. What I really like are the Harrison performances, with Clapton on guitar. And I would even shitcan the Abbey road songs “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun.” I’m talking about the Harrison solo originals, above all Wah-Wah. What I would really do is take Sides 2 and 3, delete the track “Band Introduction,” and swap in “Bangla Desh.” That would be a very good single album from the night. All in all, I'm not going to spring for the remastered CD of this when all I want is the equivalent of two sides. And I'm definitely not going for the old school expensive vinyl on this. This one will have to live in my memory of the vinyl my parents had when I was young. The only good album they ever had, and they only had about 3 or 4.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Pepe Kalle & Nyboma - Empire Bakuba: 3.5 stars
Not sure what the exact title of this album is, but it is strong. Way too expensive used though to put on the shelves.
Childish Gambino - Camp: 3.5 stars
I accidentally bought two copies of this, and am selling both back (!). Trying to consolidate shelf space and his rapping is just so irritating. Some good tracks though.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Diblo Dibala - Evolution (New Style): 3.5 stars
I don't know, maybe it's a straight B. Probably -- I have some lack of objectivity with Diblo. But if you listen past the cheesy keybs and other questionable elements, you hear those sparkling leads. Anyway, no real physicals.
Blow-Up - Easy Knowledge: 3.5 stars
Good mid-'80s Hollywood garage-type band. Download only at this point, and overpriced on vinyl, so not going on the shelves.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Rich Krueger - Life Ain't That Long: 3.5 stars
Bucking the recent trend, this hugely indie release is actually available on CD, but at inflated prices. Not personally opting to spring for it instead of simply streaming when I want to hear it, not at B plus (borderline honorable mention) anyway, but others might.
Monday, March 12, 2018
Various Artists - AfroColombia Remix Vol. 2: 3.5 stars
Not as good as the first, and more than twice as long. What they needed to do was combine the two volumes into one CD, edit it down to 60 minutes or so, and sell that.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
The Chills - Kaleidoscope World: 3.5 stars
This is the 18 track version released on Flying Nun in 1989 (FNE 13CD). I'll listen to the 6 extra bonus tracks on the 2016 re-release, but don't expect to post anything about them, unless they somehow make or break the collection. Note, this contains the entirety of The Lost EP, as well as the original 8 track Kaleidoscope World, plus some other tracks. Not all great, but necessary for any kind of fan of the band.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Gestu de Dakar - Diabar: 4.5 stars
The first track, Djirime, might be my favorite song of all time. In fact, I'm pretty sure it is. Used copy for sale at almost a grand. I'd probably pay a couple hundred for a near mint copy. As it is, I printed this one out and put it on the shelves. [Re-issued on vinyl-only in 2020! Made an exception to my general rule and bought a copy for $40. Supposedly "remastered" although it doesn't sound like it much. I certainly am not noticing anything I hadn't before, maybe slightly more detail. Still happy to have it.]
Bubba Sparxxx - The Charm: 4 stars
I feel so much like one hand clapping in the forest with this rapper that I'm stopping here. Maybe one day I'll investigate more, but right now it would make me feel like a outcast (no pun intended given that this is executive produced by Big Boi).
Shopping - The Official Body [honorable mention]
You can’t read a review of this female-fronted band's albums without the reviewer comparing them to several post-punk bands from the '80s. Sounds good for nostalgia, but a little derivative. Also played Consumer Complaints and Why Choose at least three times and am stopping there.
Black Uhuru - Anthem: 3.5 stars
Listened extensively over the decades to both the US and Jamaican versions (in fact, own them both in physical), trying to like it as much as everyone else seems to. But to me it pales next to Red and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Obviously, I'm keeping the physicals though -- it's a major Black Uhuru release.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Batch review of various bootlegs - single listens
I went on a bootleg research and downloading kick awhile ago. I'd always dismissed bootlegs as curios, but decided I should give some of the best-regarded ones a decent chance. If and when I get to them, I will list the ones I could only manage to listen to once or twice here.
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Boarding House, San Francisco, CA, July 7, 1975
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Boarding House, San Francisco, CA, July 7, 1975
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