Friday, July 31, 2020
Persian Gulf - Changing the Weather: 3.5 stars
A full A from both Christgau and Hull? So it's the equivalent of Daydream Nation? Really?.... Really? Probably more of an honorable mention, but upped a notch in deference to those critics, and that I already have it in vinyl and want to keep it.
Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner [honorable mention]
:-) [Shelved due to critical pressure at the time. De-shelved in 2020 after yet another listen. Could never understand what people heard in this. Actually probably a neutral for me, but I'm still bending to that critical pressure.]
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Neil Young - Road Rock, Vol. 1: Friends & Relatives [honorable mention]
:-) ["Cowgirl," "Words," and "Watchtower" are A level, but all the other songs are far below that. But those three are so good, it almost rates a B plus in my mind, like Christgau gave it. He overrates it by a notch no doubt because Neil let his wife sing on it. So we probably agree in the end. Overall, I can't justify purchasing it. I have all his live albums with Crazy Horse though, just not this one with "friends & relatives." At least four listens]
Sleaford Mods - All That Glue: 3.5 stars
Not going for a B plus best of, plus this one goes on forever, especially for a band that's a little "one note" (I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, just a double album is not the format for that). I will have to re-evaluate buying one or more of their individual releases, because I really like the band. [Four listens]
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Rush - Permanent Waves (40th Anniversary): 3.5 stars
Grade is for live, second disc. Some good renditions. But, the songs are from different shows, making this inessential when there are other good live Rush albums from this period. Plus I wouldn't collect live Rush at B plus anyway.
Saturday, July 25, 2020
African Fiesta - Merveilles du Passe (1962 1963): 4 stars [360163]
Muzikifan Congo essential. Obviously unfindable. Also a little before my collecting period.
Jeffrey Lewis - A Turn in the Dream-Songs: 3.5 stars
I don't usually add anti-folk at B plus, but for this I will make an exception, because I have it already, I like the CD case, and I admire Lewis. I also see him as a modern-day Stampfel, who I do collect at B plus. He also knows how to pick a band (unlike Hamell on Trial, by comparison).
Yes - Close to the Edge [honorable mention]
:-) ["And You and I" is a great song. The other two, especially the side-one-filling title track, are not so good.]
Friday, July 24, 2020
Etoile de Dakar - Volume 4: Khaley Etoile: X stars
The title track is a top ten African track of all time no doubt. Five of these six tracks are on the essential comps ("Silmakha" is not - dutifully played three times), so I haven't bought this or rated it.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Juvenile - 400 Degreez [honorable mention]
:-) [Very close to B plus, but it's a little samey, and it's annoying - hah, how he ends every line - hah, with the word hah - hah. Starts to grate on you after awhile.]
John Coltrane - Africa/Brass and The Africa/Brass Sessions, Vol. 2: X stars
Listened to these in their two original configurations. Very nice, but somehow don't seem essential for the minimal jazz collection.
Monday, July 20, 2020
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Mike Watt - Ball-Hog or Tugboat? [honorable mention]
:-) [There's a B+ or even A- EP in here, but as an album, it goes on and on and on, for 70 full minutes. A double album he did not have in him.]
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Various Artists - Oi! The Album: 3.5 stars
Could be an A minus. Right on the edge. But impossible to find at a a less than exorbitant price so not bothering to make the determination.
Billy Woods & Kenny Segal - Hiding Places: 7.5 (high B+)
I like the LP cover better (with the crooked house). Anyway, this looks like it's completely unavailable on CD. Maybe it was in limited edition? Selling for ridiculous prices now anyway. Could be an 8 (A-) but not sweating that distinction since it's unavailable anyway.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Sonic Youth - Live at the Continental Club: 3.5 stars
Several reasons not to get this: live album at B plus (although for a band I like this much, I would usually go for it); other good live albums from this general era (Hold That Tiger); people are charging way too much for it; and it's a "fan club" release only.
Monday, July 13, 2020
Saturday, July 11, 2020
S.E. Rogie - Palm Wine Guitar Music: The 60's Sound: 7 (B+)
# [palm wine] If it were not OOP, I would probably have gone for it, because it seems like such a soukous (particulary Dr. Nico) progenitor. Very sweet sounding.
Eric Clapton - There's One in Every Crowd [honorable mention]
:-) [Not sure why this is so reviled. Might even be a B plus. Alot of his solo work falls into this category with me.]
Friday, July 10, 2020
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Fovea Hex - Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent: 3.5 stars
Sonic Youth - Live in Los Angeles 1998: 3.5 stars
I would buy this as a souvenir, if it were available in physical, because I was there. Probably an A minus for the live show. The audience got to sit for the whole thing, which was nice.
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
The Teen Idles - Minor Disturbance E.P.: 3.5 stars
Forget about actually buying this in physical. First Dischord release, goes for about a grand in good condition.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Etoile de Dakar [Youssou N'Dour] - Xalis [honorable mention]
Review is for the three songs not on other albums/comps I have reviewed/own: "Xalis," "Sama xalatu aduna," and "Banana."
Friday, July 3, 2020
The Beta Band - The Three E.P.'s [honorable mention]
:-) [I think the first EP, Champion Versions, might even be an A minus. But then the other two EP's go way downhill from there, and the songs start going on forever. I would buy the first one, if it were ever released on one of those cute little CD singles, but it looks like it was only put out on 12-inch, my least favorite format, and they are selling for a fortune anyway. So, I'll settle for Dry the Rain on the High Fidelity soundtrack and call it a day.]
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Brian Eno and J. Peter Schwalm - Music for Onmyo-Ji
:-( [Listened only to second disc with Eno/Schwalm. Can't comprehend how Rolling Stone album guide reviewer could give this five stars.]
The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station: 3.5 stars
With this band, I'm the opposite of the norm for a band that's not one of my favorites: I don't buy their B plus studio albums. I would buy this anyway, but it's only available on CD in first generation transfers, or a later edition cluttered with crappy bonus tracks.
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
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