The Mekons - The Mekons Story [honorable mention]

:-) [Odds and sods collection. Not as bad as Christgau and Hull would lead you to believe.]

Thinking Fellers Union Local #282 - Admonishing the Bishops [EP] [honorable mention]

 :-) [Four songs, five listens]

Material - One Down: 7 (B+)

 

# [experimental] [8+ listens] I used to own this and sold it off per the # tag. This was never released domestically on CD remastered (except for possibly on Celluloid in 2005, but a copy has never sold on Discogs, so it's either non-existent or ridiculously rare). [Actually, I ended up re-buying this as part of an inexpensive European 3 CD remastered set with Temporary Music and the Laswell album with SXL called Into the Outlands. See separate reviews of those albums, but all-in, I thought it was worth it.]

The Wrens - Silver [liked]

 :-) [Some signs of greatness to come] [four listens]

Various Artists - Hanging Tree Guitars: 8 (A-)

 

Upped to 8 (A-) on 6th listen and purchased. Otherwise, # [blues/gospel/multi-artist comp].

Franco et TP OK Jazz - 1967-1968 [honorable mention]

 :-)

The Wrens - Abbott 1135 [EP] [liked]

 :-)

The Wrens - Life Stories From the Union b/w Our Brightest New Year [liked]

 :-) [7"]

The Wrens/The Five Mod Four - Split CD [EP]: 7 (B+)

 

Various Artists - Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture: 7 (B+)

 

My Amazon purchase history indicates that I bought this back in 2006, 15 years ago. But now I can't find it - so I must have sold it back? For a "various artists" comp at B+, I probably wouldn't buy it now, and certainly won't be re-buying it.

Spoon - They Want My Soul: 9 (A)

 

Wilco - Wilco (The Album): 7 (B+)

 

Even though this is # [alt-country], I have a physical, because it's the only album of theirs that got an A-range grade from Christgau (maybe even 8.5 (high A-), hard to tell), and I bought it before you could stream first (or before I could, anyway). I'll keep it for that reason. Along with A.M. and YHF.

Thunderbirds Are Now! - Make History [honorable mention]

 :-) [De-shelved in 2021]

Wu-Tang Clan: Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers): 7.5 (high B+)

 

This is where I start and stop with them. Allmusic agrees that this is their only essential work.

Wu-Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams [honorable mention]

 :-) [De-shelved in 2021]

Group Doueh & Cheveu: Dakhla Sahara Session: 7 (B+)

# [desert blues b/w French rock]

Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension

 :-|

Wu-Tang Clan - The W

 :-( [De-shelved in 2021]

KMD - Mr. Hood [honorable mention]

 :-)

Faraon Bantu y Champetaman - Futuro Ancestral: 8(A-)

 

Digital only.

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Live and Let Die

 :-(

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: Wanted: Dead or Alive: 8 (A-)

 

Better than the debut in my opinion. But similarly going for ridiculous prices used, so I'm going to have to do without it. There's a 2 disc version of both of these albums, which would be great to have. Try finding a copy of that.

Faust - Faust

 :-( [This is the debut from 1971.]

Faust - So Far: 7 (B+)

# [krautrock] Ridiculously expensive anyway.

U2 - Zooropa [liked]

 :-)

Yabby You - King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub

 :-|

Open Mike Eagle - Anime, Trauma and Divorce

 :-(

75 Dollar Bill "Little Big Band" - Live at Roulette

 :-|

Various - Forward: A Selection of Greensleeves Top Singles 1977-82: 7.5 (high B+)

 

# [multi-artist comp] Mentioned in Beastie Boys Book. Actually, I came upon this from another source almost 4 years later, forgot I had already posted about it, and played it 3 more times. This time, I settled on 8 (A-), so I should probably change the grade. But, even at that grade, prices are ridiculous.

Munson-Hicks Party Supplies - Munson-Hicks Party Supplies [honorable mention]

 :-)

McCarthy Trenching - Perfect Game [honorable mention]

 :-)

Guiss Guiss Bou Bess - Set Sela [honorable mention]

 :-)

Toots and The Maytals - Got to Be Tough [liked]

:-) [5 listens]

Thelonious Monster - Oh That Monster [honorable mention]

 :-)

Yabby You - Dub It to the Top [honorable mention]

 :-) [Very samey, as all Yabby comps seem to be]

Bob Mould - Blue Hearts

 :-|

Keith Hudson - Pick a Dub: 7 (B+)

 

Afghan Whigs - Uptown Avondale: 7 (B+)

 

Second half way better than the first. Ie, first two songs are on the weak side. Ie, B vs A-. Also, covers only.

Jimmy Riley - Rydim Driven: 7 (B+)

 

LP only. Really sounds more like R&B than reggae. I would still purchase a copy if it were selling for a decent price used.

Yabby You - Prophecies of Dub [honorable mention]

 

[Including cover to distinguish between very similar-sounding release, Prophesy of Dub. A few brilliant songs.]

Stereolab - Transient Random​-​Noise Bursts With Announcements [honorable mention]

 :-)

Skip James - Today! [unrated]

 

Definitely not qualified to rate. # [blues]

JJ Doom - Key to the Kuffs: 8 (A-)

 

2021 Single Listens (unless otherwise noted)

WestSide Gunn & MF Doom - WestSide Doom [single, two songs]

WestSide Gunn - Flygod Is An Awesome God

Augustus Pablo - El Rocker's [repetitive, sleepy and heard many of the tracks before]

BbyMutha - Muthaland

Peter Tosh - The Toughest [rocksteady comp on Heartbeat]

Iggy Pop - Iggy & Ziggy [Agora, 3/21/77]

Sault - Black Is

Ad-Rock's Toyota mixtape [It's become clear that Yauch was the artistic genius in the band]

Various Artists - Tighten Up, Volume 2

Augustus Pablo - Presents Rockers International [does that thing where it repeats tracks]

Baba Zula - Hayvan Gibi

Madlib - Sound Ancestors

Beastie Boys - The Mix-Up

Playboy Tre - Goodbye America

Playboy Tre - Liquor Store Mascot

Lomelda - Hannah

Sugar Minott - Hard Time Pressure [2CD version]

Calvin Keys - Shawn-Neeq

Wu-Tang Clan - The Essential Wu-Tang Clan

The Beths - Jump Rope Gazers

Fela Ransome Kuti and the Koola Lobitos - Afro Beat on Stage

Israel Vibration - Israel Dub [Same Song Dub and Unconquered Dub]

Boney M. - Take the Heat Off Me

Serengeti - What a Day

Serengeti - Jeremy C

Serengeti - Curse of the Polo

Serengeti - Have a Summer

Serengeti - The Glennon EP

Various Artists - Catch This Beat: The Rocksteady Years 1966-1968

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Arc

Mad Professor - Beyond the Realms of Dub

Lync - These Are Not Fall Colors

Sly & Robbie - Presents Two Rhythms Clash ["riddim" album]

The Mighty Diamonds - Backstage

Oku Onuora - I a Tell... Dubwise and Otherwise

Various Artists - Dubwise & otherwise: A Blood and Fire Audio Catalogue

Bullwackies All Stars - Creation Dub

Rod Stewart - A Night on the Town [two listens]

Michael Nesmith - Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma

Spring Heel Jack - Masses [improvisational jazz]

Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom

Various Artists - Dub Reggae Essentials

The Dream Syndicate - Live at Raji's [sounded good, but would never end up getting...]

Kasai Allstars - In the 7th Moon ...

"Blue" Gene Tyranny - Out of the Blue

Tribu Baharu - Baharulogia [digital only]

Navy Blue - Song of Sage: Post Panic!

Pat Kelly - The Vintage Series

The Paragons - On the Beach

Sa-Roc - The Sharecropper's Daughter [what is with the annoying annunciations in hip hop?]

Various Artists - Deutsche Elektronische Musik

Deep Purple - Burn

Mikey Dread - Pave the Way

Mac Miller - Swimming

Larry Marshall - Presenting

Hieroglyphic Being - Synth Expressionism/Rhythmic Cubism

Jackie Mittoo and the Soul Vendors - Evening Time

Spoonie Gee - The Godfather of Rap

Spoonie Gee - "The New Rap Language" b/w "Love Rap"

Prince Far I - Dubwise (one of those same tracks twice in a row comps)

Thomas Mapfumo & The Blacks Unlimited - Mr Music

Dave and Ansel Collins - Double Barrel

Kanye West - Donda

John Holt - Like a Bolt

Dennis Brown - The Best of [Joe Gibbs label, 1975; fifth album]

Mach-Hommy - H.B.O.

Lee "Scratch" Perry & Subatomic Sound System - Super Ape Returns To Conquer

Prince Far I & The Arabs - Cry Tuff Dub Encounter, Chapter IV

Ray Lema - Nangadeef [Xgau B+ - “Afro-futurism”]

Mandingo - Watto Sitta [Xgau B+ - “Afro-American fusion]

Various Artists - The Black Foundation in Dub

Rina Sawayama - Rina [EP]

Sleigh Bells - Texis

Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band - Just Like Moby Dick

Simon Shaheen & Qantara - Blue Flame

[YBN] Cordae - The Lost Boy

Rey Sapienz and the Congo Techno Ensemble - Na Zala Zala

Knife Party - Rage Valley

Jerry Jeff Walker - A Man Must Carry On

Huerco S. - For Those of You Who Have Never (and Also Those Who Have)

U.S. Maple - Acre Thrills

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Live! Warts 'N' Audience....Plus!

Brainic - Hissing Prigs in Static Couture

Roxy Music - Heart Still Beating

Pusha T - Wrath of Caine

Keith Hudson and Friends - Studio Kinda Cloudy

Various Artists - Roots Techniques [Heartbeat]

Various Artists - Make 'Em Mokum Crazy

New Age Doom/Lee “Scratch” Perry - Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Guide to the Universe

Luna - A Place of Greater Safety [instrumental]

Luna - Live [has neither Harwood nor Demeski]

Super Biton de Segou - Afro.Jazz.Folk Collection Vol. 1

Luna - A Sentimental Education [covers album]

Vince Staples - Vince Staples [2021]

Desert Rose Band - A Dozen Roses - Greatest Hits

Bruce Springsteen - The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts

Madlib - Sound Ancestors

L'Rain - Fatigue

Tyshawn Sorey/King Britt - Tyshawn & King

Theon Cross - Intra-I

The Armed - Ultrapop

Nitin Sawhney - Immigrants

Bob Marley and the Wailers - The Capitol Session '73 [live]

Gang of Four - Live at American Indian Center, San Francisco - 1980 

Israel Vibration - batch review

Catalog essentially lapsed. Everything costs a fortune, so I'm not going to even make the distinctions or think about physical. What they need is a good collection, like the Big Youth one. In order of my preference, ranging from 7 (B+) to 8 (A-).

Strength of My Life
The Same Song
Forever
Unconquered People