Big Black - Lungs [EP]: 7 (B+)

On The Hammer Party w/Racer-X EP.

Big Black - Bulldozer [EP]: 8 (A-)

On The Hammer Party w/Racer-X EP.

Big Black - Heartbeat [EP]: 7 (B+)

On Rich Man's w/Atomizer. I guess this is technically filed as a single, with 2 songs on the 2nd side.

Big Black - Headache [EP]: 7 (B+)

On Rich Man's w/Atomizer.

Big Black - “He’s a Whore” b/w “The Model” [honorable mention]

:-) [A single. Total time: 5:07]

Big Black - “Il Duce” b/w “Big Money” [honorable mention]

:-) [A single. Total time: 5:42]

Marvin Gaya - In the Groove: 7.5 (high B+)

# [r&b]

Ekko Astral - Pink Balloons: 8 (A-)

That moronic thing where the only physicals are vinyl and cassette.

Wayne Kramer - Citizen Wayne: 8 (A-)

I bought this when it came out and played it over and over because I had only recently gotten into Christgau, and I didn’t like it much and was trying to hear what he heard in it. I waffled and eventually sold it off, although I remember loving the track “No Easy Way Out.” Playing it now, I do remember all the tracks, which is a really great sign, and impelled me to give it a 7.5 (high B+), and then an 8 (A-). These songs felt like old friends this time around. So I felt compelled to pick it up again, almost 25+ years later; and there is a reissue version with a video on it, which gives me an excuse to buy it again. May rate this video after I play it.

Various - More Music from 8 Mile: 7.5 (high B+)

# [multi-artist comp; soundtracks] I really enjoyed listening to this, and actually played it several times beyond the initial 3. But I can't bring myself to add it to the shelves, which makes me think that, looked at objectively, it had to be 7.5 (high B+) at the most. The songs on it are mostly already in the collection, so, since it's not even the film's primary soundtrack, I can't see its reason for being, other than a slice of good rap tracks from the time of the film (1995).

Various - Girl Group Greats: X stars

I actually deshelved this, but reshelved it because Christgau never misses a chance to plug it, he gave it a 10 (A+), and it's a pretty nice package. I also deshelved Rhino's prior version, The Best of the Girl Groups, Vol. 1. That one is staying deshelved.

Les Savy Fav - Oui, LSF: 8 (A-)

Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet: 7 (B+)

Actually de-shelved this in one round, but then realized I'd probably made a mistake. Same with Get Awkward.

Fugazi - Steady Diet of Nothing: 7 (B+)

Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material: 8 (A-)

Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place [honorable mention]

:-)

Firehose - Sometimes, Almost Always [EP] [honorable mention]

:-)

Creation Rebel - Lows and Highs

:-|

Nirvana - Bleach: 7.5 (high B+)

Nirvana - Nevermind: 8.5 (high A-)

Big Black - Songs About Fucking: 8 (A-)

Louis Armstrong: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings: X stars

Bill Evans Trio - Sunday at the Village Vanguard: X stars

Bill Evans Trio - Waltz for Debby: X stars

Steinski - Creative License: Steinski's Rough Mix: 8 (A-)

Nothing remotely physical about this as far as I can see. Found file on Soundcloud ... not sure how long it will remain up there. Can't find files to download anywhere, so maybe I'll never be able to hear it again. Mystery man.

Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters: 8 (A-)

Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um: X stars

Of course, one has this. And a street rat such as I does not dare to grade it.

Thomas Anderson - Blues for the Flying Dutchman: 8 (A-)

Best cover image I could find for this one. I'm trusting Christgau's ears on this artist, but note that Tom Hull likes alot more of his records at the A- level, so I hope I get around to listening to those one day.

Thomas Anderson - Alright It Was Frank ...: 8 (A-)

Big Black - Racer-X [EP]: 8.5 (high A-)

I have this on vinyl and remastered on CD as part of The Hammer Party reissue, with the Lungs and Bulldozer EPs.

Big Black - Atomizer: 8 (A-)

I have this on CD as part of The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape, together with the "Heartbeat" single and the Headache EP. 

Nick Lowe - Basher: The Best of Nick Lowe: 8 (A-)

This is how I solve the "Nick Lowe" problem: After the first 2 must-haves, what to do about the following 5 good but not great releases? Not counting the single track from Nick the Knife (which probably edges in as an 8 (A-) and only has 1 (so-so) track on this), this gives you the following number of tracks from the other 4 (and 7 from debut; 7 from follow-up; 1 from Rockpile):

The Abominable Showman - 2 tracks

Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit - 2 tracks

The Rose of England - 4 tracks

Pinker and Prouder Than Previous - 1 track

I have good reason to believe that I will rate these 7 (B+) or 7.5 (high B+) but # [pub rock]. But we shall see.

Radiohead - My Iron Lung [EP]: 8 (A-)

I purchased the US edition which, unknown to me, contains only 5 of the 7 tracks that appear on "fuller" editions (some have 8? some extra version of "Creep"). Turns out the extra 2 tracks ("Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong" and "Lozenge of Love") make it less of an EP, and are just acoustic ditties which would bring the grade down a notch, while the 4 tracks on the US edition are actual songs which sound great and clock in at 17 minutes (perfect), so I think I ended up with the right edition by accident and I'll be keeping it.

Radiohead - Airbag/How Am I Driving? [EP] and No Surprises/Running from Demons [EP] [placeholder]

Purchased as part of the reissue OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017. Significant overlap between these 2 EPs. And "Bishop's Robes" (which I have heard) is the only track on these 2 EPs not on the OK Computer reissue. For reference, here are the tracks:

"Meeting in the Aisle"

"Melatonin"

"A Reminder"

"Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)"

"Pearly"

"Palo Alto"

"How I Made My Millions"

The first 3 songs on the second disc of the reissue appear only there. The other extra song, "Lull," was a B-side to the "Karma Police" single.

Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark: 8 (A-)

Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism: 8 (A-)

Death Cab for Cutie - The Open Door [EP]: 7 (B+)

Death Cab for Cutie - Forbidden Love [EP] [honorable mention]

:-) [A little slight]

Jeb Loy Nichols - Lovers Knot: 8 (A-)

Fugazi - In on the Kill Taker: 7 (B+)

As a DC resident for the largest part of my life, I've gone completist on Fugazi.

Minor Threat - Complete Discography: 8 (A-)

Contains the EPs Minor Threat, In My Eyes, and Salad Days, plus the "album" (at 22 minutes, really just a fourth EP) Out of Step. It also has their 2-song contribution to the Flex Your Head comp.

Rites of Spring - End on End: 7.5 (high B+)

Contains the first album, Rites of Spring (which confusingly has the same cover as this), and the EP, All Through a Life. Basically their entire body of recorded work.

Fishmans - Long Season: 7 (B+)

# [Japanese indie] I have also heard this album's sole track, "Long Season," on the live album, 98.12.28 Otokotachi no Wakare. So, studio version of this, 3 listens, plus live version, one listen.

Jay-Z/Linkin Park - Collision Course [EP]: 7 (B+)

# [DVD/CD sets] Not as bad as everyone would have you believe. But only available as a thick CD/DVD digipack (that is, with 2 discs), not as a simple music-only CD. And also, for this reason, overpriced.

Mayhem - Deathcrush [EP]: 7 (B+)

# [black metal] I almost made an exception, given its "historical" importance, but it's really not available in the proper format at the proper price. [At least 7 listens]

Fugazi - The Argument: 7.5 (high B+)

Fugazi - Repeater + 3 Songs: 8.5 (high A-)

Contains the 3 Songs EP, obviously.

Fugazi - 13 Songs: 8 (A-)

Contains the EPs Fugazi (a/k/a 7 Songs) and Margin Walker.

James Carter - Layin' in the Cut: 8 (A-)

Almost a "fusion/popular" album. But I'll still put it on my tiny jazz shelf with The Real Quietstorm and Conversin' with the Elders. [De-shelved at some point, but now recovered]

Serengeti - KDIV: 9.5 (high A)

Various - Roots of Jazz Funk Volume One: X stars

Bought this when it came out in 1997. Christgau gave it an A+, so I can remember being hopeful that this would be the comp that finally got me into jazz. I played it over and over, and was able to recognize its objective greatness, but never really got any pleasure from it. I eventually deshelved it a couple decades later when trying to thin the heard. Rescued from the pile in 2024. I think Christgau is overly fond of comps. For comparison, Hull gives this an A-. I probably would give this a 7.5 (high B+), and then not get it (# [jazz/multi-artist comp]), but since I have it, I feel like keeping it for now. Maybe that means I think it's an 8 (A-).

Prince Jammy - In Lion Dub Style: 7.5 (high B+)

I'm pretty sure these tracks are all on Black Uhuru in Dub. This is vinyl-only anyway (with original vinyl being ridiculously expensive).

Firehose - Ragin', Full-On [honorable mention]

:-) [Cannot fathom how Christgau got this at C+]

Nick Lowe - Nick the Knife: 7 (B+)

# [pub rock]

Arca - Xen: 7 (B+)

# [experimental]