Saturday, February 26, 2022

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - The 1st Album (1973): 7.5 (high B+)

# [Afro-funk/import]

Big Thief - Live at The Bunker Studio [EP]: 9 (A)

Digital only. I think this might be the best thing they've ever done. I'm tempted to have it printed out, but it's "live" and an EP.

Mar Seck - Vagabonde [honorable mention]

:-) [At least four listens. Improves a lot towards the end.]

The Birthday Party - Junkyard [honorable mention]

:-) [All songs on this are on Hits except for “Dim Locator”, “Several Sins”, “Kiss Me Black”, and “Kewpie Doll.” Ie, 60% of the album is on Hits. And I listened to the effective EP of these four songs three times. No big loss.]

Eurythmics - Touch [honorable mention]

:-)

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

:-|

Yung Kayo - DFTK

:-|

Iamdoechii [a/k/a Doechii] - Bra-Less [EP]

:-( [Soundcloud only]

Suburban Lawns - Baby [EP]: 7.5 (high B+)

Please see review of self-titled debut LP.

Suburban Lawns - Suburban Lawns: 7.5 (high B+)


Would definitely buy this, and the EP, if they were available. Recently re-issued together, but totally unfindable at any reasonable price.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Vinyl De-shelved in February 2022

The Platters - Encore of Golden Hits
Dion and The Belmonts - 24 Original Classics
The Five Royales - The Five Royales
Various - A History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues--Vol. 1 (1950-1958)
Various - A History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues--Vol. 2 (1959-1962)
Etta James - Her Greatest Sides, Vol. 1

Saturday, February 19, 2022

alt-J - The Dream [honorable mention]

:-)

Tidiane et Les Dieuf Dieul - Salimita [honorable mention]

:-) [Just misses 7 (B+). I honestly think it's David Murray's sax that keeps it down.]

Social Distortion - Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell: 7 (B+)

Virgin Prunes - If I Die, I Die: 7.5 (high B+)

I would buy this if I could find it at reasonable price.

Serengeti - Kenny Dennis III [honorable mention]

:-) [Bought this on CD despite it not being graded, because so little of his work is available in that format that I jumped at the chance to support him. Plus, Tom Hull gave this an A-, and I now have all three Kenny Dennis releases. Or, more precisely, will if I ever find EP for a reasonable price on CD.]

Garbage - Garbage: 7.5 (high B+)

Apollo Brown & Che Noir - As God Intended

:-( [Really a Che Noir album, which explains the Christgau extreme overrating.]

Hoodoo Gurus - Mars Needs Guitars [honorable mention]

:-)

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Dead Kennedys - Plastic Surgery Disasters [honorable mention]

:-)

Bad Religion - How Could Hell Be Any Worse?: 7.5 (high B+)

All domestic CD versions have the other EPs on them, which I don't want. Who wants to listen to an hour straight of early Bad Religion? Original vinyl goes for over $50. So I'll have to do without, although some call it a punk touchstone.

Bad Religion - Suffer [honorable mention]

:-) [Could be a 7 (B+) but it is not available for reasonable prices anyway, so I'm not going to sweat the distinction. It's 26 minutes long, and it costs $17-$20 on CD and way more on vinyl. Epitaph doesn't ecen have it in print. So I'm going to pass.]

Bad Religion - Generator [honorable mention]

:-)

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Serengeti - Thunder Valley [placeholder]

Maybe one day I'll find a copy somewhere and be able to hear this. I did sample one or two tracks I could find though, and they weren't that good. Early work - seems like he's still trying to find his voice.

Afghan Whigs - Congregation: 7 (B+)