Justin Timberlake - Justified: 8 (A-)

The Everly Brothers - All-Time Original Hits [Rhino, 1999]: 9.5 (high A)

I am not qualified to grade something like this, and so normally I would not, but I feel emboldened with this one for some reason. What a fantastic compilation!

Ray Charles - Anthology: X (X)

Please see post re: Ultimate Hits Collection.

George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars - How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent? [The C Kunspyruhzy, 2005]: 7 (B+)

Docked two notches for extreme bloat.

Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music: X (X)

Ray Charles - What'd I Say: X (X)

Definitely not qualified to rate this. But Christgau gives it a 10 (A+), so in the collection it goes. I also just don't know how else to listen to artists like him. I hate those giant boxes for the most part. That is not how those tracks were meant to be consumed, and they get tiresome and feel like work. Besides, I got a beautiful remastered Japanese issue with out any crap cluttering it up. The Japanese know how to do reissues, in my opinion, so I will occasionally opt for them. I think another one of his early releases was reissued there as well, so I will probably end up getting that too. And then I do have that Ultimate Hits Collection, 2-disc set, because I had to have some compilation.

Devo - Something for Everybody [Warner Bros., 2010]: 7 (B+)

Very probably upped a notch subconsciously for the great cover. Fairly standard electropop in my view, with that individual Devo twist. Completely unavailable at reasonable prices at this point in any event.

Lorde - Solar Power: 7 (B+)

Even though this is #indiepop and I would not normally add it at this grade, or even at 8 (A-) since it is vinyl-only, I did, for reasons that will remain unstated.

The Mekons - Heaven & Hell: The Very Best of the Mekons: 9.5 (high A)

What an awesome compilation. I am so glad to have found a nice copy of this at this late stage. I didn't look into it when it came out, because I had almost all their work, and so did not realize how great/necessary it was, especially the second disc. Just beautifully done.

Peter Stampfel - Song Shards: 8 (A-)

David Thomas & the Pedestrians - The Sound of the Sand and Other Songs of the Pedestrian: 7 (B+)

#experimental

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca: liked

De-shelved some years ago. At least 5 listens.

The Gun Club - In Exile: liked

Goes on for too long. I realize it's a compilation and all (tracks from Mother Juno, Pastoral Hide & Seek, and Divinity), but still -- waiting for it to end on a third listen, although it's not unpleasant or blah per se, just wanting to get on to something slightly more engaging.

Lee Dorsey - Yes We Can: 8 (A-)

I streamed the ...And Then Some version of this three times on the official YouTube "Topic" channel for him and played the regular issue once or more. I have the digital files of the regular issue but won't be buying a physical unless someone reissues it properly. (There is a recent LP reissue, but I don't go for those.) Current prices being asked for this used in any format are absolutely ridiculous.

Pavement - Brighten the Corners: 8.5 (high A-)

Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: 7.5 (high B+)

Pavement - Wowee Zowee: 8 (A-)