Monday, May 28, 2018

Death Grips - Exmilitary: 3.5 stars


Good mixtape. Way ahead of its time, which probably still hasn't arrived. Physicals are ridiculously expensive.

Franco - 20eme Anniversaire - 6 Juin 1956 - 6 Juin 1976, Vols. 1&2: 3.5 stars


Don't need any more Franco B+ compilations.

Speedy Ortiz - Twerp Verse: 7 (B+)


# [indie/noise pop]

Frankie Cosmos - Vessel: 3.5 stars


Outside my domain.

Tyler Childers - Purgatory: 3.5 stars


Not the kind of country I collect.

Various Artists - East of Africa: Pioneers of African Popular Music: 4 stars


Another great Dakar Sound compilation, this time of earlier Congolese rumba. Leans towards the Nico/Rochereau/Kalle African Jazz side of things, which I personally prefer to the Franco OK Jazz alternative.

Various Artists - The Kampala Sound: 1960s Ugandan Dance Music: 4 stars


I should really rate this 4.25 stars. I printed this one out early on during that phase of my listening/collecting habits, and will keep that on the shelves. [De-shelved in 2020]

Friday, May 25, 2018

Various Artists - Merveilles du Passe: Musique Congolo-Zairoise, Volume III: 3.5 stars


Physicals way too expensive for B+.

Leonard Cohen - The Essential Leonard Cohen: 4 stars


I love the guy, but I can't say he's ever recorded an album I'd give more than 4 stars (other than the live one Field Commander Cohen -- 4.5 stars). I'd give ten of his fourteen studio albums 4 stars though, three 3.5 stars (Songs from a Room, Recent Songs, and Dear Heather), and one 3 stars (Death of a Ladies' Man). That's a pretty remarkable oeuvre.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Boulevard of Broken Dreams - It's the Talk of the Town and Other Sad Songs: 4 stars


Slightly outside my collecting sphere, but I was tempted to pick up a near mint vinyl copy for only $10. If it was ever a domestic CD, I'd probably have given into temptation.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Sunday, May 6, 2018

Hootie & The Blowfish - Cracked Rear View: 3.5 stars


I'm giving this a B+ in honor of its sales. It probably deserves just an honorable mention in my book. In my quest to listen to and collect some of the highest selling albums of all time, this and Jagged Little Pill are where I draw the line. Or maybe even Billy Joel's two volume greatest hits. We'll see with that one.

Galaxie 500 - This Is Our Music: 4 stars


Love the cover photos on this one. This is the two-disc reissue with the Copenhagen live set. Grade is for the regular issue album, although the live set is nice to have.

Friday, May 4, 2018

Clay Harper - Old Airport Road: 3.5 stars


A little too marginal to put in the collection.

The Jam - Setting Sons

😐

The Jam - Sound Affects [honorable mention]

:-)

Jonathan Richman - I, Jonathan [honorable mention]

:-| [Songs are excellent, but not personally crazy about what was done with them]

Built to Spill - There Is No Enemy: 4 stars


Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot: 7 (B+)


# [alt-country] [but I have it anyway because it's revered]

Noura Mint Seymali - Tzenni: 3.5 stars


Not buying a B+ of Mauritanian griot, but did buy her next one, which is a hair better. This one's good though, and if you love Arbina, you'll want this.

Silver Jews - Starlite Walker: 3.5 stars


No reasonably priced physicals.

Indeep - Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life!

😐

The Antlers - Hospice

😐

Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space: 7 (B+)


# [space rock? electronica?] [I've owned it in the past, and really try not to rebuy things that I've sold off. I toyed with buying it again anyway, because it's so well-loved, but it's strangely expensive.] [~10 listens?]

tUnE-yArDs: I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life [honorable mention]

😐 [Christgau gave all four of her works A minus or straight A, while Hull gave the first 3 B pluses with one or two stars, and this one a real step down with a straight B. So I am with Hull and will not be getting this, although I think of it slightly higher than he does.]

Bill Frisell - This Land

😐

Paramore: After Laughter

😐

Big Thief - Capacity: 7 (B+)

Neil Young - Roxy - Tonight's the Night Live [honorable mention]

:-)

John Prine - Tree of Forgiveness: 8 (A-)

Atlas Sound - Logos [honorable mention]

😐

L7 - Bricks Are Heavy: 5 stars


Amen Dunes - Freedom: 4 stars


L7 - Slap-Happy: 3.5 stars


Not available in physical for reasonable prices.

Miles Davis - Milestones: 3.5 stars


Not shelving pre-electric Miles at the B+ level.

Miles Davis - Miles Ahead

😐

Pere Ubu - Apocalypse Now: 4 stars


Same band members that recorded Worlds in Collision.