Various Artists [mostly Folk Implosion] - Kids (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): 8 (A-)

Lou Barlow is a mensch. This also has Sebadoh's "Spoiled," which is a great song.

I also made a playlist of the songs that are not on this but were in the movie, and listened to it three times (excluding songs I already knew, or that weren't "modern"). It ended up being EP length with 6 tracks:

Whutcha Want? - Nine
Word Is Bond - Brand Nubian
Crooklyn (Instrumental) - Crooklyn Dodgers
Wrong Side of the Tracks - Artifacts
Listen Up - Erule
Time's Up - O.C.

I would give the EP a 7 (B+).

Yugen Blakrok - Anima Mysterium: 4 stars

Very good album, but not paying high import prices for a CD that is Bandcamp-only. [Also, I can't have this one and not the next, which is better in my opinion.]

Les Amazones d'Afrique - Amazones Power [honorable mention]

:-)

Taylor Swift - Speak Now: 8 (A-)

Taylor Swift - 1989: 8 (A-)

Pere Ubu - Lady From Shanghai: neutral

It's marred by at least a couple of long, dirge-like songs that aren't any good. And it also often sounds like two tracks are playing at the same time. Downgraded from "liked" on a fifth listen. I'm pretty sure it would drop to "disliked" if I listened to it a sixth time.

Pere Ubu - Story of My Life: 7 (B+)

Upped from "neutral" on fourth listen. And upped from "liked" on fifth listen. Why does it take me so long with these guys each time, after all these years? I guess they're just one step ahead of me always, as I suppose all good artists should be.

David Johansen - In Style: 7 (B+)

The only CD remaster is one of those Culture Factory "vinyl replica" reissues. I have the un-remastered American Beat CD reissue of Here Comes the Night, and they also reissued this one, but I grade that album higher and do not generally do that anyway. For some reason that reissue for this one is too expensive even if I wanted to do that. I really have to fight my completest tendencies on this, because I have his other 3 solo releases, and there are some nice, reasonably-priced original vinyl pressings of this available. [4 listens]

Hope Masike - The Exorcism of a Spinster: 4 stars

Shakira - Pies Descalzos: 7 (B+)

Owned once but must have sold it back because I don't see it on the shelves. Got another copy.

Peter Perrett - In the One: Woke Up Sticky: 4 stars

Would buy this if it was available for a decent price used. Original Demon CD selling for too much, and "Plus" reissue from only 13 years ago totally unavailable. I'll stick with his second comeback period.

The Eagles - On the Border: 7 (B+)

Upped from honorable mention on a fourth listen. Glyn Johns producing on two tracks gave me just the impetus. Plus, it sells cheap on a remastered CD, as it should.

The Who - It's Hard [honorable mention]

:-) [“Athena” and, of course, “Eminence Front” are outstanding tracks. Glyn Johns produced.]

Harald Grosskopf - Synthesist: 3.5 stars

# [krautrock]

Czarface - The Odd Czar Against Us [honorable mention]

:-)

Buddy and Julie Miller - Love Snuck Up [honorable mention]

:-)

Cream - Wheels of Fire [honorable mention]

:-) [Disc 2 (Live at the Fillmore) once only.]

Franco & Le TP OK Jazz - Likambo Ya Ngana [1971/1972]: 3.5 stars

Ridiculously expensive.

Various Artists - Mogadisco: Dancing Mogadishu (Somalia 1972​-​1991) [honorable mention]

:-)

Various Artists - Jambu (E Os Miticos Sons Da Amazonia): 3.5 stars

Typically fine Analog Africa release, but won’t be paying import prices for it at B plus.

Juffureh Band - Abaraka Bake: 4 stars

Digital-only, so no shelving.

Buddy Miller - Universal United House of Prayer: 3.5 stars

# [country/folk]

Popul Vuh - Hosianna Mantra: 7 (B+)

# [krautrock]

Snap - World Power

:-|

Dr. John - Dr. John's Gumbo: 7 (B+)

# [New Orleans] [plus, I’m pretty certain I owned it at one time and sold it back].

Le Nimba De N'Zerekore - Gon Bia Bia: 3.5 stars

Very old (1980) expensive LP or digital-only modern file, so no go.

Hama Sankare - Niafunke [honorable mention]

:-)

Love/Hate - Blackout in the Red Room [honorable mention]

:-)

Lee Scratch Perry - Heavy Rain

:-| [Four listens]

French Montana and Max B - Coke Wave [honorable mention]

:-)

The Goats - Live at Khyber Pass: 7 (B+)

I saw them at a bar on South Street (the name escapes me), might have been that same year, or more likely the next, because they sounded way more polished than this show. It was probably the best live show I've ever seen. Upped a notch because I love the band so much. Digital-only.

Taylor Swift - Red: 8 (A-)

Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties [honorable mention]

:-) [4 listens]

Railroad Jerk - The Third Rail: 7 (B+)

#punkblues/junkrock

Jimmie Rodgers - The Essential Jimmie Rodgers [1997]: X (X)

I had this at one point, but may have sold it off. Probably not a smart move, but I think I wanted to go look for an early vinyl compilation or something, thinking that format would fit his work better. Now I'm thinking of trying RCA Country Legends.

Franco et Josky Kiambukuta du T.P.O.K. Jazz - Tout Feu Tout Flamme [a/k/a Franco, Josky, Matalanza du T.P. O.K. Jazz: A Paris 1983 Missile]: 4 stars

Two covers (and titles) on this one. The second one is a 1996 Sonodisc reissue of the 1983 original. Some truly beautiful songs on this one, some (all?) of which have been compiled on collections. But not really available in physical in this form.

Eric Clapton - Just One Night: 7 (B+)

#live

Mose FanFan [Mose Se Sengo "Fan Fan"] - The Congo Acoustic [liked]

:-)

M.I.A. - AIM: 4 stars

Throwing Muses - Throwing Muses [honorable mention]

:-)

Chai - Punk [honorable mention]

:-)

Taylor Swift - Lover: 8 (A-)

Upped from 7 (B+)

Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next: 3.5 stars

# [R&B]

The Coathangers - Scramble

:-|

Various Artists - The Rough Guide to Country Blues: X stars

I'm not qualified to judge this kind of thing. It could very well be an A plus. I certainly liked it more than most country blues collections I have heard. But ultimately not the kind of thing I collect.

Grant "G.W." McLennan - Watershed: 4.5 stars

Desaparecidos - Payola [honorable mention]

:-) [Overall, somewhat strident and one-note. Christgau liked its politics and mentions Trump in the review (?).]

Eric Clapton - Money and Cigarettes [Warner Bros., 1983]: 8 (A-)

Update (November 2025): Way upped from "liked" after many more plays half a decade later. I'm not sure why I was resisting this just a few years ago. I think I was in too much of a hurry to get through his pretty big catalog and gave alot of these mid-period albums short shrift. It's been great finally appreciating mid-period Clapton in my early old age. Apologies to the gentleman for not giving him his due; like he would give a crap lol. Although you know what, he seems like such a decent man that I could even see him appreciating it. And look at that classy suit (and otherwise great album cover). I might even still be under-rating this. Just a really fine album. Comes in, does its traditional blues playout in a fantastic manner, and takes its leave in under 40 minutes. A model of sophistication and patrician restraint.

Silver Jews - Early Times [liked]

:-)

Joe Higgs - Unity is Power

:-|

DJ Shadow - Our Pathetic Age [honorable mention]

:-) [First disc is around a B minus, second disc is 8 (A-).]

Mr. Lif - Don't Look Down [honorable mention]

:-) [Music is more of a B plus or even A minus, but the adenoidal/stentorian raps are a little headache-inducing after awhile.]

Shakira - Grandes Exitos: 7.5 (high B+)

All tracks, except those from MTV Unplugged, are on albums I have. I almost got a copy though just for the album cover and because I love her. If it were selling at a low price, I would. #bestof

Lee "Scratch" Perry - Rainford: 4 stars

New Order - Waiting for the Sirens' Call: liked

See post re: Music Complete

Shakira - Shakira [RCA, 2014] : 9 (A)

Bon Iver - I,I [honorable mention]

:-)

Big Thief - U.F.O.F.: 8 (A-)

Rachid Taha - Je Suis Africain: 4 stars

Atmosphere - Whenever [honorable mention]

:-) [If Christgau gives this at least ***, I'll probably cave and buy this too. His records can seem a little rote -- although they're pretty much all good. It's like he just keeps making the same one over and over.]

Joe Higgs with the Wailers: Blackman Know Yourself

:-(

The Gladiators - Serious Thing [honorable mention]

:-) [Four listens]

The Band - The King Biscuit Flower [Flour] Hour: Carter Barron [Baron] Amphitheater: Washington, DC 1976: 7.5 (high B+)

I think these are alternate covers for the same bootleg taken from the FM source for King Biscuit. People say it's important because it was around the same time as The Last Waltz, but it's just the band without famous friends. I think it's fine. #bootleg