Diary of a Melomaniac

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, June 30, 2018

Prince - The Black Album: 7 (B+)

# [limited edition]

Various Artists - Giants of Danceband Highlife

😑

Destroyer - Kaputt: 3.5 stars

I'm shelving this B+ because it ranked so highly on Pazz & Jop and I don't have any of his records otherwise. At this point in collecting, I might not have purchased it, but in 2011 I did, and so I guess I'll keep it.

Jason Derulo - Talk Dirty: 4 stars

Garland Jeffreys - King of In Between: 4 stars

Bettye Lavette - Things Have Changed [honorable mention]

😐

Hole - Live Through This: 10 (A+)

I also have Celebrity Skin and Nobody's Daughter, which I hope I get around to formally grading some day.

Ann Peebles - Part Time Love: 7 (B+)

# [soul]

Various Artists - Punk 45: Chaos in the City of Angels and Devils (Hollywood from X to Zero & Hardcore on the Beaches: Punk in Los Angeles 1977-81)

Not paying import prices for a B+ punk compilation, but nice.

Johnny Marr - Call the Comet [honorable mention]

:-)

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Deerhunter - Rainwater Cassette Exchange: 4 stars

Deerhunter - Fluorescent Grey: 4 stars

Garland Jeffreys - Ghost Writer: 4 stars

I'm 90% sure I owned this at one point, but I can't find it and vaguely remember selling it back. It is on the periphery in any event, possibly a B+. Never been released outside of Japan on CD. Used vinyl copies aren't priced right, so I won't be seeking physicals at this time, but if they ever reissue, I will probably get it. Right now it is a streaming-only creature, so I will consume it that way if that's what they want.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Yo La Tengo - Extra Painful (bonus download) [honorable mention]

Decent live versions etc. as follows:

1. "Double Dare (Sominextraction)" (live, CBGB, 1/31/92)

2. "What She Wants" (live, House Of Music, West Orange)

3. "Ashes on the Ground" (live, SIR, 9/29/93)

4. "Nutricia" (recorded at Snack Time by Fred Brockman)

5. "For Shame ff Doing Wrong (Slide Version)" (live, House of Music, West Orange)

6. "Superstar Watcher" (recorded at Snack Time by Fred Brockman)

7. "Big Day Coming" (live, Reckless Records, 4/26/92)

8. "I Was the Fool Beside You for Too Long" (live , SIR, 9/29/93)

9. "Shaker" (live, The Batschkapp, Frankfurt, 1/3/94)

10. "Artificial Heart" (live, Shank Hall, 5/11/93)

11. "Whole of the Law Loops" (Painful Sessions, Water Music & James Apartment 1992)

12. "Nowhere Near" (live, Lounge Ax, Chicago 11/13/93)

13. "Sleeping Pill" (excerpt from "Ian Mackaye," Room Temperature, Brooklyn 2/20/93)

14. "Big Day Coming" (live, SIR, 9/29/93)

15. "Sudden Organ" (live, SIR, 9/29/93)

Oneohtrix Point Never - Age Of

😑

Leonard Cohen - Cohen Live: 3.5 stars

Friday, June 22, 2018

Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow: 7 (B+)

# [blues rock]

Robert Ashley - Private Parts: 3.5 stars

I like this, but it's more of a performance piece than an album, so it's not going in the collection. I used to own the CD version with the cover on the right, but I guess I sold it back. According to Wikipedia, this is an early version of the first and last acts from Perfect Lives, that is, Act 1: The Park (Privacy Rules) and Act 7: The Backyard (T'Be Continued). Of course Act 4: The Bar is its own record.

Bill Withers - Just As I Am: 3.5 stars

Only available as an over-priced import. Possibly an A minus.

Canned Heat - Future Blues: 7 (B+)

# [blues]

Midori Takada - Through The Looking Glass

😑

Various Artists - The Tanzania Sound: 3.5 stars

Physicals are ridiculously over-priced, even if I were inclined to shelve a B+ compilation album, which I'm not.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Docteur Nico, L'African Fiesta Sukisa - Caroline Caroline - A Mokolo Wana - Mamu Wua Mpoy, vol. 3: 3.5 stars

These are essentially the same album, with the one on the left having an extra track ("A Mokolo Wana"). I think the album is good, but not great, and would not pay nearly what is being asked for it in physical. The one on the left is actually digital-only anyway, as far as I can see. Another Muzikifan Africa Top 50 I'm just not crazy about. Title of one on the right is Docteur Nico & orchestre African Fiesta ‎– L'Afrique Danse N° 8 - Vita.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Bruce Springsteen - The Rising: 4 stars

His last really good album, if you ask me.

Confidence Man - Confident Music for Confident People: 3.5 stars

I don't collect this kind of dance music.

Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I & II

😛

Womack & Womack: Conscience: 3.5 stars

See review of Love Wars. I like this one a hair less, so even though it's cheap, I'm not going for it.

Womack & Womack - Love Wars: 3.5 stars

Could be A-, but physicals too expensive for an R&B record that is somewhat outside my sphere, so not sweating the distinction too much.

Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer: 7.5 (high B+)

Upped from 7 (B+). I'll probably end up buying this when and if it wins Pazz & Jop even though # [r&b]. [And, it came in second, so I got it, plus both Hull and Christgau gave it an A minus. I'm probably still underrating it. I used to have The ArchAndroid too, but it looks like I sold that back.]