The Mekons - Journey to the End of the Night: 7 (B+)

I got a copy when it came out and sold it back eventually. After just now listening again, I can see why I did that but have become a Mekons completist over the intervening decades and so will probably end up rebuying it. Part of the disease of melomania. I note that this gets 4.5 stars in the last Rolling Stone guide, and the only other album of theirs which those particular reviewers gave that distinction to is Fear and Whiskey. It mystifies me how someone could view those two albums on the same level. I could see someone giving this one 4 stars (A-), or even 4.25 (high A-) in a stretch, but not a full A. The songs are just too slight. And when you actually read the text regarding the album in the guide, it reads as pretty lukewarm praise.

Update (August 2025): Upon rebuying, a quarter century later, I have upped it a notch, and am glad to have it, but still don't see how someone could equate it with F&W. Maybe in another quarter century? I'll be preparing for death at that time, if I happen to make it that far, and might see things differently. Although by this point I've listened to it at least a dozen times. Very few albums take that long to kick in, in my experience. In fact, the only one I can think of is Exile in Guyville, by Liz Phair.