Sunday, July 27, 2025
B.B. King - The Best of B.B. King Volume One: X (X)
Christgau lists this twice, [Ace, 1986] and [Flair/Virgin, 1991]. These appear to be the exact same album, cover art and all (while the Flair/Virgin appears to have one more track, that's just because one track is now split into its original two parts). I have the Flair/Virgin, but nowhere does it say it's dated 1991. In fact, the copyright notice says Ace 1986. Ie, it's just a remastered domestic reissue of the 1986 Ace album, which he also lists as an import, even though it was also issued domestically.
In an earlier book, he also recommends 16 Greatest Hits on Galaxy. Five of the songs on that are on here, which means it's about 70% original, so I may pick up a copy. I feel like I don't have enough B.B.
Various - The Indestructible Beat of Soweto: 9 (A)
I know I also had The Kings and Queens of Township Jive: Modern Roots of the Indestructible Beat of Soweto [Earthworks, 1991] during the 1990's but sold it off. Might have been a mistake, but there's nowhere to stream it to re-evaluate, 30 years later. Oh well. Grades of other titles in this particular series to come.
Saturday, July 26, 2025
Various - Wall of Sound: The Very Best of Phil Spector 1961-1966: X (X)
I'm not going to try to grade this, because, for sheer listening enjoyment, I know I'd have to give it less than the 9 (A) I know it deserves. I can't find a cover image without those disgusting spots. [Filed under "Spector"]
The Feelies - Rewind: 7.5 (high B+)
Possibly docked a notch semi-subconsciously for being an artisanally-priced, short (9 tracks, 29 minutes) release consisting of previously-released cover versions. # [covers]
Various - The Rough Guide to the Music of Hungary [2012]: 7.5 (high B+)
Four out of seventeen tracks not on Spotify. I did not listen to the bonus disc. # [Roma]
Friday, July 25, 2025
Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts - Talkin to the Trees: 7 (B+)
Music is a 7.5 (high B+), lyrics are like a C-, which I don't have as a grade. I only dropped it to 7 (B+) for that though, because he's a pathetic ex-legend whose daughter won't even talk to him, and he can't seem to take any responsibility for that. And I can comment on this, because it's in the lyrics, so he made it public. I actually feel sorry for him, and despite his stardom and having the power of a king, he's had a hard life in a lot of ways, and I appreciate how he keeps trying artistically.
Diblo Dibala - Pas Moi: liked
Almost got to 7 (B+), because of the guitar playing obviously, but the songs just aren't there in my estimation. Basically unavailable for anything approaching a reasonable price anyway. Still, if you are a fan of Diblo, you will enjoy it if you give it a few plays.
New York Dolls - Personality Crisis [EP]: 7 (B+)
I'm not sure whether to consider this an "official" Dolls release, but it's close enough anyway that I thought I ought to have a copy. Plus, it's an EP, which I favor (and issued in a slim case), so I got one. UK demos recorded in October 1972 at Escape Studios in Kent. These are the same demos appearing on the split compilation with the Sex Pistols called After the Storm. Maybe I should have picked that up instead, because those Pistols demos are not too bad, but they're not that great, so I'll leave it here. Anyway, these Dolls demos are better than the Mercer Street ones, although nowhere near the Planet Studios demos from 1973.
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Michelle Shocked - Short Sharp Shocked: placeholder
I'm pretty much boycotting this album, since this artist has made her music so difficult to even sample. The prices people are asking are ridiculous, not surprisingly, since the music is effectively her little secret. But I would definitely give it some fair listens if I ever found a way to do that without paying ridiculous prices used for something unheard, especially since I'm not a huge fan of the genre and suspect it would be 7.5 (high B+) and # [folk; alt-folk] to me. This is based on Christgau's effective 8.5 (high A-) and Hull's A-.
Langa Langa Stars et Choc Stars – Verckys Presente Langa Langa Stars et Choc Stars: 8 (A-)
On my wantlist. I doubt a copy will ever come up at the right price though.
Various: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture): 8 (A-)
It's all in the parenthetical - soundtrack songs plus music inspired by the movie. I could not believe that Christgau gave this an 8 (A-), possibly an 8.5 (high A-), but, as always, disregard him at your peril. It grows on you. I don't even like the series/movie, but the songs are undeniably funny. Even the old lady laughed at some of them.
Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary: The Best of Ike and Tina Turner: X (X)
Outside my comfort zone for grading. On pure listening enjoyment, I’d give this a 7.5 (high B+) at best, but I know that can’t be right. I will also try their Greatest Hits [United Artists, 1976]. Maybe in smaller doses. # [r&b]
Friday, July 18, 2025
Various - Tokyo Invasion, Volume I: Cosmic Kurushi Monsters: [8 (A-)]
I actually need to listen to this one more time before officially grading it, but I have it, and don't want to lose this thought, which is simplistic, but I'm getting old. Everyone needs some Japanese noise rock in their collection, and I can't imagine a better way to satisfy that need. Saw Melt Banana once live. They were opening for someone, maybe Sonic Youth?
Thomas Jefferson Kaye - Thomas Jefferson Kaye: 7.5 (high B+)
I've got this on my wantlist. Hope it shows up for a reasonable price one day (at this grade, about $20 shipped).
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - Bridges: 7.5 (high B+)
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Too expensive even if I wanted to get a copy. Five listens. # [r&b]
Adrianne Lenker - Live at Revolution Hall: 7.5 (high B+)
I'm not jumping on the bandwagon on this: Docked a notch for bloat. 80 or so minutes would have been just great. Some of the solo tracks could have been left off, and some of the “atmospheric” tracks, such as the one where her fans tell her that they looooove her (Yasss Queen!), could definitely have been avoided. Also, dumb-ass physical release only on limited edition cassette. So pretentious. I did cut out all the fluff, and came up with an hour-long edit that I thought might be worth burning and shelving, but after a couple listens to that, I realized even that's not, although it would bump it up a notch or two. Outstanding track: "Little Things"
William Truckaway - Breakaway [Reprise, 1971]: notation
Christgau reviews an eponymous album by this artist dated 1972, also on Reprise, and gives it a B+. I could find no record of this anywhere except on his website. All other sites state that he only ever released one album, this one, dated a year before the one Christgau reviews. I don’t know whether Christgau got the title and date wrong but presume that he was listening to something else, because this one does not strike me as a B+, although I only listened once, so I will not be grading this. Not only didn’t it strike me as a B+, I didn’t want to spend any more time on it when I have little faith that repeated listens will bring me up to that grade given that there is no indication that this is the one the Christgau liked.
Diblo Dibala - Tout Le Monde: liked
For those with almost no knowledge of French, seemingly subtitled "Everybody." Could be a 7 (B+) but only theoretically available, so....
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Various - Motown: The Classic Years: X (X)
Same as Motown Classics: Gold. I'm not going to pretend to grade this, because to give it anything other than 10 (A+) would seem foolish.
Monday, July 14, 2025
Shalamar - Greatest Hits [1982]: 8.5 (high A-)
I have this one on vinyl, obviously, since it was never reissued on CD.
Shalamar - Go for It: 8 (A-)
I have this on vinyl. I wish Right Stuff had done a nice reissue of this like they did with Three for Love.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Kadef - Kadef: 8 (A-)
Very possibly an 8.5 (high A-), but limited-edition vinyl only so I'm not going to sweat the distinction.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Mighty Sparrow - Volume One: X (X)
De-shelved this at one point, but rescued it given that both Christgau and Hull give this a 10 (A+), ie, masterpiece. Who am I to go up against those guys?
New York Dolls: All Dolled Up
I normally don't post about films, but this one is important. Definitely worth seeing, but not worth getting a copy in my view. The extras just don't seem to justify it, although, if I watched them, maybe they would? I'm skeptical is all, and, while the footage of the main attraction is great and a must-see, it's not exactly something you'd want to watch over and over.
Various - Township Jazz ‘n’ Jive: X (X)
De-shelved at some point. # [multi-artist comp; township jazz]
Various - Closer Than a Kiss: Crooner Classics: 7 (B+)
De-shelved at some point. Another one that shocked me when it placed so high in Christgau's 1990's book when it came out. And you had to buy it to hear it in those days. I remember the disappointment. # [multi-artist comp]
Otis Redding/The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival: 7.5 (high B+)
Never reissued (in this format) on remastered CD. The Hendrix performance I obviously evaluate separately in its entirety as well. # [live; multi-artist comp]
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