Friday, April 26, 2019
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Carsie Blanton - Buck Up
:-| [Annoyingly affected vocal style. Neo-cabaret. Listened 4 times because Christgau gave it a full A.]
Monday, April 22, 2019
Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume 2: X (X)
Never reissued on CD domestically, although was reissued by Hallmark (UK reissue label, not US greeting card company) in 2017. While I won't presume to grade this, I will say that it doesn't seem to measure up at all to the original/first volume, even to my unsophisticated ears. I think many others agree. #oldies
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Tabu Ley Rochereau - Tabu Ley: 7 (B+)
I normally would get this, but it is from 1984, ie the pre-CD era, so unless I want to get a first generation CD transfer from 1991, I need to buy used vinyl, and I just can't justify the expense, given the now-definitive double 2-CD set Voice of Lightness.
Mutiny - Mutiny on the Mamaship: 8 (A-)
Vinyl on this is so expensive that there is no reason to even put up an alert. Columbia issued a twofer with this and Funk Plus the One in 2015, but they're already going for a fortune, so that's not an option either. I originally burned both of these first two albums to a single disc and put it on the shelves, but I later de-shelved it when I realized that they get a combined grade of 7.75, which is not worthy of that treatment in my view (plus, I did a terrible job of creating the disc). I also looked into buying the best of How's Your Loose Booty [Sequel, 2000], which contains all but one of all tracks on each of the first two albums, plus four tracks from A Night Out With the Boys, but that's too expensive also, although not so expensive that I don't have an alert up. Come to think of it, while I was at it, I also put an alert up on Mutiny on the Mamaship -- whichever I see first, I guess.
Fela Kuti - Black Man's Cry: 7 (B+)
I cheated a little with this one, in that I didn't listen to the two tracks from here that are on Best Best: "Lady" and "Shakara." That's of course, with Fela, almost 30 minutes of music. I did listen to the title track six or more times though, to make up for it. That one's an oddity in the man's catalog, as it's only 6:40 long. More of a song fragment for him I guess. # [afrobeat]
Donna Summer - Bad Girls (Deluxe Edition): liked
This review is really for the 12" single mixes on the second disc. See my review of the actual album elsewhere.
Pete Shelley - Homosapien: 8 (A-)
Upgraded from 7.5 (high B+) upon 5th listen when re-issued in 2025 in exemplary fashion. Three songs were swapped on the British and US issues. The re-issue follows the UK track listing, adds on the three US songs, the only B-side from the album, and two dance/dub mixes. It doesn't say it was remastered, but I went for it anyway.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Thelonious Monk - The Complete Blue Note Recordings: X (X)
Did analysis/plays of Genius of Modern Music Volume One and Genius of Modern Music Volume Two and opted for The Very Best as the best alternative. All the other compilations, including the two Genius volumes, have alternate takes put in after the "main" tracks. I'd love to read a single Monk review that doesn't use the word "compositional."
Pete Townshend - Empty Glass: 3.5 stars
Not buying because it should be available for around 7-8 bucks new, and for some reason it’s selling for around $30. Seems like one of these artists who is trying to push people to buy digital albums for $7, which I clearly don’t do. Might only be an honorable mention anyway. Not sure why Xgau gave this a B minus.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Lou Reed - City Lights [honorable mention]
:-) [Played this Arista compilation once as a whole in order to get the "gestalt," even though I've had (or eventually will) review each of the contributing studio albums on their own. Not sensing much of one.]
Sunday, April 7, 2019
Husker Du - Warehouse: Songs and Stories: 7.5 (high B+)
I've got this on vinyl, where it will stay. It would be interesting to have it on a single CD, since it was issued near the beginning of the CD era and in some sense seems like it befits that format. But I just don't like it that much, so I'll just keep it on vinyl.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Thelonious Monk/Sonny Rollins - Thelonious Monk/Sonny Rollins: X (X)
Apparently, a must-have. So I do.
Mother Love Bone - Apple: neutral
I considered buying this anyway, despite the neutrality, because of its importance to grunge, but it's strangely expensive. Used copies should be going for single digits, in my mind. Maybe I'll keep an eye our for a copy that's priced right. Update: I realized I was being stupid and that this, together with the Shine EP, are on that ubiquitous Mother Love Bone (ie, self-titled) release, which was selling for a really fair price, so I got a copy of that. I'm am evaluating the EP separately and will update this post upon completion of that. The compilation sits on the final listen shelf until then.
Big Youth - Some Great Big Youth [placeholder]
I didn't listen to this in its proper form. It has 5 tracks from Rock Holy, 2 from Progress, and 3 others. See my individual reviews of the two former albums. The other 3 tracks -- "World War III," "Roots Foundation," and "Get On Up" -- are fine.
New York Dolls - New York Dolls: 10 (A+)
I'm a little bit of fanatic with the Dolls. I have this on vinyl and CD.
Big Youth - Screaming Target: 9.5 (high A)
[Listened to the second disc of bonus re-issue (probably twice) and did not think it was worth shelving. Of academic interest only.]
Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil: X stars
Constantly being cited as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. So I'll shelve it. But I won't presume to grade it.
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