Ray Wylie Hubbard - Co-Starring Too: 7 (B+)

# [Might be a notch higher without the twang.]

Terri Klein - Good Luck, Take Care: 7 (B+)

 # [country]

Willi Carlisle - Peculiar, Missouri: 7 (B+)

# [folk/country]

Pony - TV Baby [honorable mention]

:-)

Mary J. Blige - Share My World [honorable mention]

:-)

Taylor Swift - Midnights: 7.5 (B+)

 

# [country] Originally 8 (A-), but docked a notch after the Christgau review made me question my judgment.

Beach House - Teen Dream: 7.5 (high B+)

Michael Prophet - Michael Prophet [a/k/a Gunman] [honorable mention]

:-) [Cover included to avoid release confusion]

Beach House - Bloom: 8 (A-)

Beach House - Once Twice Melody [honorable mention]

:-) [Docked a notch for bloat. Standout track: "Superstar." Seems a little surprising to me that this is by far the worst user-reviewed album of theirs on Allmusic. Critically, it's one of their top three.]

Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Forever [honorable mention]

:-) [Docked a notch for bloat.]

Loudon Wainwright III - Lifetime Achievement: 7.5 (high B+)

# [folk]

Tove Lo - Dirt Femme: 7.5 (high B+)

# [electropop]

Slint - Slint [EP] [honorable mention]

:-)

De Kaboul A Bamako - Sowal Diabi: 7.5 (high B+)

# [wassoulou (-ish?)] [Never been a big fan of Mamani Keita, who appears to be the driving force behind this "project." I even de-shelved her album with Marc Minelli -- Electro Bamako -- several years ago.]

Harry Styles - Harry's House: 7.5 (high B+)

# [pop rock]

Joni Mitchell - Clouds: 7 (B+)

#

Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse: 7 (B+)

# [metal]

Morgan Wade - Reckless: 8 (A-)

Upped from 7.5 (high B+). [standout track: "Other Side"]

Lil Peep - Lil Peep Part One [honorable mention]

:-)

Shalamar - batch review

Three for Love I would give a 7.5 (high B+). Same for Go for It. I have the latter on vinyl, even though the albums are #. I will keep the latter, which I bought decades ago before I could hear things before buying them. I also have the 1982 Greatest Hits on vinyl, and the 1999 one on CD. And that's that for this band.

Them - batch review

Really the albums Them (a/k/a The Angry Young Them) and Them Again. I suppose I would give the first an 8 (A-) and the second a 7 (B+), respectively. But it doesn't really matter because they are only available in really old expensive vinyl, or in un-remastered CDs or CDs with bloated extras. They should be reissued in a nice two-CD set. I almost settled for the following, because it has 8 of the 14 tracks on the first and 9 of 16 on the second, plus three additional songs not on either ("Here Comes The Night," "One More Time," and "One Two Brown Eyes"), and notes by Lester Bangs:

But it's only on 1972 vinyl, and is kind of an artificial way to get them. All other options have too much bloat, or more than I want. So, like early solo Van on Bang, I will ultimately do without.

Van Morrison - Hymns to the Silence [honorable mention]

:-) [Docked a notch for bloat. Cut back the two 10 minute songs (!) and it fits on a single disc in 1991.]

Van Morrison - Blowin' Your Mind: 7 (B+)

Basically an odds-n-sods release. Not sure how Hull got to a full A on this. Main songs have been re-released in numerous configurations over the years (as T.B. Sheets, Bang Masters, etc.), none of which are satisfactory for a variety of reasons -- not remastered, duplicate tracks, missing tracks, etc. I almost went with something called Super Hits, which is probably remastered, and sells for a few bucks, but it doesn't have "T.B. Sheets," which is the main draw of these Bang sessions. "Brown Eyed Girl" is obviously essential, but it's on Best of, and we've all heard it so many times already anyway. So I ended up not getting anything to represent this period, and will just start with Astral Weeks, which is the big bang anyway. [Still need to do a scrub on Them.]

The Klezmatics - Jews with Horns

:-|

Uncle Tupelo - March 16–20, 1992: 7 (B+)

# [acoustic alt-country]

Peter Stampfel & The Ether Frolic Mob - The Sound of America: 7 (B+)

# [+ artisanal pricing] [four listens]

Conor Oberst - Upside Down Mountain: 7 (B+)

# [alt-folk] [five listens]

Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B [honorable mention]

:-)

Christmas Albums

These are the ones that get played every year:

Bing Crosby - White Christmas
Various - A Very Special Christmas
Louis Armstrong & Friends - What a Wonderful Christmas
Elvis Presley - It's Christmas Time
Various - A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - Jama Ko: 8 (A-)

 

Album of the year (2013 - took me forever to formally grade) for Muzikifan and top 10 with a full A from Christgau probably means I'm underrating this by at least a half notch and very possibly a full one.

Serengeti & Polyphonic - Don't Give Up: 7.5 (high B+)

Only three copies on CD in the universe it seems. Not paying what's being asked.

Emperor X - The Lakes of Zones B and C: 8 (A-)

Digital only.

Van Morrison - Down the Road [honorable mention]

:-) [Not sure what T. Hull sees in this one. The highest I could see going on this would be 7.5 (high B+).]

Alvvays - Antisocialites B-Sides [honorable mention]

:-)

Black Thought / Danger Mouse - Cheat Codes: 9 (A)

Alvvays - Blue Rev: 7.5 (high B+)

# [Five listens]

Alvvays - Alvvays [honorable mention]

:-)

Louis Armstrong - Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule [placeholder]

All but three songs are on What A Wonderful Christmas by Louis Armstrong & Friends -- "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" (a duet with Ella which is on the must-hear Ella and Louis Again), "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (a mostly a capella trifle with Velma Middleton), and "Moments to Remember" (which has nothing to do with Christmas). I'm ignoring "What A Wonderful World" (for obvious reasons) and the recitation of "A Visit From St. Nicholas ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)."

Grade Post

Before November 2020 grades were from 3.5 stars (B+ equivalent) to 5 stars (A+ equivalent) in half star increments. Letter grade equivalents were not noted at that time. This system did not allow for 3.75, 4.25, or 4.75 stars, which is why the new system was developed based on number grades from 7 to 10 in half digit increments. [I do translate old star grades to their number/letter grade equivalents (by simply doubling the number and adding the letter equivalent) when I see them and am inspired to do so. In such cases, I don't tend to consider whether to upgrade 3.5 stars to 7.5 (high B+), 4 stars to 8.5 (high A-), or 4.5 stars to to 9.5 (high A).]

In the new system, number grades in half digit increments are noted, with their letter grade equivalents in parentheses. No grades are assigned below 7 (B+). So:

    10 (A+)
    9.5 (high A)

    9 (A)

    8.5 (high A-)

    8 (A-)

    7.5 (high B+)

    7 (B+)

For albums below 7 (B+), the post title will say:

    [liked*], with a :-) in the body of the post [equivalent to 6.5 or low B+]

    nothing, with a :-| in the body of the post [neutral - equivalent to 6 or B]

    nothing, with a :-( in the body of the post [negative - anywhere from 0 to 5.5 or from F to B-]

    *[originally "honorable mention" (and still remains so in some posts before 11/24)]

The # symbol in the body of a post signifies that the album is in a genre that is not collected at grades below 8 (A-) (or even at 8 (A-) for overpriced imports), unless it does extremely well in the polls or for some other reason noted in the post. The perceived genre is specified in brackets following the # symbol. Otherwise, all graded albums are collected, unless they are OOP, selling for ridiculous/import prices, and/or digital/vinyl only, etc.

I generally will physicalize a digital- or vinyl-only release with a grade of 9 (A) or above. I do this by purchasing the digital tracks and using Kunaki to burn and send a disc. Great service.

I got so many hateful comments about "honorable mention" entries [e.g., "How about my dick give you an honorable mention?"] that I changed it in very late 2024 to "liked". If someone spent 2 hours reading my blog, after I've spent 1000s of hours listening carefully and creating it (guaranteed more than it takes to record the typical album I post about), and then gave it an honorable mention*, I'd be pretty happy, but I guess alot of people hate that? But it did make me realize a simple "I liked it" is more what I feel anyway, so thanks for the constructive feedback! I will change prior "honorable mentions" to "liked" as time allows and as people spew hateful comments on particular entries. Not trying to offend anyone, just document what I think about the music I listen to so carefully.

*Personally, I shoot for 7.5 (high B+) and would be thrilled to get that but would settle for 7 (B+). I'd give Christgau's blog a 9 (A) (and his work up until 2000 a 10 (A+)). I'd give Tom Hull's an 8.5 (high A-).

Gentle Giant - Octopus

:-(

Homeboy Sandman - Still Champion: 7.5 (high B+)

Selling at artisanal pricing, for a 33 minute album.

Lady Aicha & Pisko Crane's Original Fulu Miziki of Kinshasa - N'Djila Wa Mudujimu: 8 (A-)

Digital/vinyl only.

Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems [honorable mention]

:-) [Sorry, it's the constant shrieking.]

Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow [honorable mention]

:-)

Various - Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2: 7 (B+)

# [multi-artist comp]

Fimber Bravo - Lunar Tredd: 7 (B+)

# [steel pan]

Wiki - Half God

:-( [Yet another Christgau rap fail]

Various - Golden Afrique, Vol. 3: 7.5 (high B+)

Even though at this grade for a multi-artist comp I would normally not get this, I would make an exception here because I have the first two volumes. But the prices are outrageous. Second disc holds up much better than the first.

Niney the Observer - Observation Station: 7.5 (high B+)

# [multi-artist comp] All tracks produced by Niney. I almost made an exception and bought this, because the backing band on these tracks is Soul Syndicate, but it's too expensive on the used market.

Bhundu Boys - Pamberi! [honorable mention]

:-)

Bhundu Boys - True Jit: 7 (B+)

Imarhan - Aboogi [honorable mention]

:-) [Four listens. Starts out strong, and then loses its zip.]

Rokia Kone and Jacknife Lee - Bamanan: 7 (B+)

 

# [Wassoulou/import] [6 listens - actually, I went through the 3-listen review process twice by accident, and didn't even realize it, which means I didn't recognize it at all, which probably means it's more of an honorable mention and is a bad sign in any event. But I'll keep it at 7 (B+) because that's what I came to independently twice.]

Tom Waits - Franks Wild Years

:-|

GG Allin - Hated in the Nation

:-|

Electric Light Orchestra - A New World Record: 7.5 (high B+)

Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado [honorable mention]

:-)

Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns: 8 (A-)

Burial - Tunes 2011 to 2019 [placeholder]

I have all the songs from all the EP's on here, except for: "State Forest," "Beachfires," "Subtemple," "Young Death," "Nightmarket," and "Claustro." I played all of these three times. Not good enough to rebuy 2/3 of the collection just to have.

Janet Jackson - Janet: 7.5 (high B+)

# [R&B]

Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death [honorable mention]

:-)

Billy Joel - 52nd Street: 7 (B+)

# [pop]

Boston - Don't Look Back [honorable mention]

:-) [Actually only played once at this time, since I heard it so many times when it came out. Title track is legendary.]

Plains - I Walked With You a Ways: 8 (A-)

The Butterfield Blues Band - East-West [honorable mention]

:-)

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band [honorable mention]

:-)

Allen Ginsberg - First Blues

:-|

Transvision Vamp - Velveteen [honorable mention]

:-)

Katrina and the Waves - Katrina and the Waves: 7 (B+)

# [power pop]

John Cougar Mellencamp - Scarecrow: 7 (B+)

# [heartland rock]

Frightwig - Cat Farm Faboo

:-|

Frightwig - Faster, Frightwig, Kill! Kill! [honorable mention]

:-)

Trio - Trio and Error [honorable mention]

:-)

Built to Spill - When the Wind Forgets Your Name: 8.5 (high A-)

Caustic Resin - The Medicine Is All Gone: 8.5 (high A-)

Archers of Loaf - Reason in Decline: 7 (B+)

Eugene Chadbourne with Camper Van Beethoven - Camper Van Chadbourne [honorable mention]

:-)

Horace Andy and Jah Shaka - Jah Shaka Meets Horace Andy: 8.5 (high A-)

Can't find this anywhere for a reasonable price.

Various - Crossroads Kenya: East African Benga and Rumba, 1980-1985: 7.5 (high B+)

# [multi-artist comp] Vinyl and digital only anyway. Standout track: "Ima"

So-called "Paisley Underground" - batch review

These are all around 7 (B+) or 7.5 (high B+), maybe 8 (A-) in certain places, but they are all so unavailable, I'm just going to chalk them all up to # [paisley underground].

Long Ryders - Native Sons - hm

Long Ryders - State of Our Union - hm

Green on Red - Gravity Talks: 7.5 (high B+)

Green on Red - Here Come the Snakes - hm [vocals ruin it]

Green on Red - No Free Lunch - hm

Green on Red - Gas Food Lodging - hm

Danny & Dusty - Lost Weekend: 7 (B+)

B.B. King - Electric Blues: X stars

Contains his first two albums, Singin' the Blues and The Blues. I like the fact that each one is on its own disk. I would buy it, but I generally don't collect old blues albums in physical. Also not qualified to rate, but I understand the albums are considered classics.

Dead Kennedys - Frankenchrist [honorable mention]

:-)

Negativland - Escape From Noise: 7 (B+)

# [experimental]

Buck 65 - King of Drums: 7 (B+)

Digital only ("limited edition" CDs sold out) [6 listens - no idea why everyone thinks this is so great, and I'm a huge fan]

Neil Young with Crazy Horse - World Record [honorable mention]

:-) [At a stretch, it's a 7 (B+), but even then I wouldn't buy it. First, he puts a 46 minute album on 2 LPs?! For sound quality? Give me a break. Then, for the CD, to "mirror" the LP, he still puts it on two CDs, so there's one song on the second disc?! Literally the stupidest marketing decision of all time. He's lost his mind.]

Sleaford Mods - Austerity Dogs: 8 (A-)